# contend

> English word · Verb · IPA /kənˈtɛnd/ · frequency rank #13,692

## Definitions
1. To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
2. To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
3. To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
4. To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.
5. To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.

## Etymology
From Middle English contenden, borrowed from Old French contendre, from Latin contendere (“to stretch out, extend, strive after, contend”), from com- (“together”) + tendere (“to stretch”); see tend, and compare attend, extend, intend, subtend.

## Easily confused with
- **content** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-content)
- **context** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-context)
- **contest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-contest)
- **counted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-counted)
- **convent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-convent)
- **convene** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-convene)
- **contents** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-contents)
- **contender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-contender)
- **contented** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-contented)
- **conte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/conte-vs-contend)
- **coated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coated-vs-contend)
- **conned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/conned-vs-contend)
- **consent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/consent-vs-contend)
- **commend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/commend-vs-contend)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ccontend`, `cnotend`, `conetnd`, `conntend`, `contedn`, `contendd`, `contennd`, `contned`, `conttend`, `cotnend`, `ocntend`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/contend