fend

1 of 2

verb

ˈfend 

fended; fending; fends

transitive verb

1

: defend

2

: to keep or ward off : repel

—often used with off

fend off an invader

3

dialectal British : to provide for : support

intransitive verb

1

dialectal British : to make an effort : struggle

2

a

: to try to get along without help : shift

had to fend for themselves

b

: to provide a livelihood

fend

2 of 2

noun

chiefly Scotland

: an effort or attempt especially for oneself

Synonyms of fend

Verb

• protect
• defend
• safeguard
• shield
• guard

Examples of fend in a Sentence

Verb

learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Everyone is left to fend for themselves among what feels like Hallmark crossed with Hieronymous Bosch. —Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – which has pumped billions of dollars into the tour without any tangible return – has decided LIV will have to fend for itself, cutting off funding after the 2026 season and potentially leaving some of the world’s most famous golfers in limbo. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026

Noun

But the thought of letting this poor kitten fend for itself was beyond comprehension. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Zach Edey finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Braden Smith made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to help No. 3 Purdue fend off Maryland’s furious second-half charge for a 58-55 victory. —Michael Marot, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English fenden, short for defenden "to defend"

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1721, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fend

• fend for oneself
• fend off

Rhymes for fend

• blend
• blende
• denned
• end
• friend
• lend
• mend
• penned
• send
• spend
• tend
• trend

Kids Definition

fend

verb

ˈfend

1

: to keep or ward off : repel sense 1

fend off an attack

2

: to try to get along without help

had to fend for themselves