Sample Sentences for
contend
grouped by contextual meaning
(editor-reviewed)

contend as in:  She contended that...

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Her lawyer contends that the contract isn't valid.
contends = claims or says
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    She contends that they quoted her out of context.
    contends = claims
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    Arnold contended, only half jokingly, that the entire world was increasingly described by the metaphor of the theme park.  (source)
    contended = claimed
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    Do you know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children?  (source)
    contention = something claimed
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Show 10 more with 9 word variations
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    When Colonel Lloyd's slaves met the slaves of Jacob Jepson, they seldom parted without a quarrel about their masters; Colonel Lloyd's slaves contending that he was the richest, and Mr. Jepson's slaves that he was the smartest, and most of a man.  (source)
    contending = claiming
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    O'Brien contended it was Thornton's privilege to knock the runners loose, leaving Buck to "break it out" from a dead standstill.  (source)
    contended = claimed or argued
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    But she had been full of contentions and arguments that day.†  (source)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.
  • •
    The cold that contends with fire.†  (source)
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    This accusation was based largely on Lawton's contention that the young hustler friends of Hansford had been bribed by Williams and Seiler for their affidavits.  (source)
    contention = claim
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.
  • •
    UNFERTH CONTENDETH IN WORDS WITH BEOWULF.†  (source)
    standard suffix: Today, the suffix "-eth" is replaced by "-s", so that where they said "She contendeth" in older English, today we say "She contends."
  • •
    "Well, then we contend that Miss Cardinal is not mentally unfit," countered Cotton.  (source)
    contend = claim or say
  • •
    10:2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.†  (source)
    standard suffix: Today, the suffix "-est" is dropped, so that where they said "Thou contendest" in older English, today we say "You contend."
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    Permit me, chief, permit without delay, To lead this uncontended gift away.†  (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in uncontended means not and reverses the meaning of contended. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
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    No longer contending with the deadweight of the first stage, the acceleration was profound.†  (source)
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contend as in:  She contended with it

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She contends with headaches.
contends = struggles
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    Politicians have to contend with false attacks.
    contend = struggle
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    "Even if we get the gate open, we still have to contend with the gate itself," he said.  (source)
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    And then there are my wounds to contend with — burns, cuts, and bruises from smashing into the trees, and three tracker jacker stings, which are as sore and swollen as ever.  (source)
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Show 10 more with 5 word variations
  • •
    He has enough attention from other kids without having to contend with that kind of reputation.  (source)
    contend = struggle
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    "If I'm gonna do this, I gotta do it, be the old me. I need something to dive into." Relief flooded Thomas. He'd grown sick of all the contention.  (source)
    contention = argument
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.
  • •
    Cassie's ideas about music, for instance, were a frequent bone of contention in our house.†  (source)
    "Editor's Notes"
    This phrase comes from the idea of two dogs fighting over a bone.

    This kind of common phrase (i.e., one whose meaning is not clear through the definition of its separate words) is called an idiom.
  • •
    Now it was starvation, causing us to eat our own flesh;—now we were contending with the waves, and were drowned;—now we were overtaken, and torn to pieces by the fangs of the terrible bloodhound.  (source)
    contending = struggling
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    [Susan] acknowledged her fears, blamed herself for having contended so warmly; and from that hour Fanny, understanding the worth of her disposition and perceiving how fully she was inclined to seek her good opinion and refer to her judgment, began to feel again the blessing of affection, and to entertain the hope of being useful to a mind so much in need of help, and so much deserving it.  (source)
    contended = fought
  • •
    Will you contend with him?  (source)
    contend = argue
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    I left the house, the horrid scene of the last night's contention, and walked on the beach of the sea, which I almost regarded as an insuperable barrier between me and my fellow creatures; nay, a wish that such should prove the fact stole across me.  (source)
    contention = struggle
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    She had never let Bob use the money—another bone of contention between them.†  (source)
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    And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange and certain), Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make War with mankind.  (source)
    Contending = struggling
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    Melting anguish is a good deal less attractive now that he actually has to contend with it up close and in the flesh.  (source)
    contend = struggle
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contend as in:  She contended for the gold medal

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Militant groups are contending for control of the country
contending = competing
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    The teams are in fierce contention for first place.
    contention = competition
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    I wasn't no middleweight contender, but I wasn't bad, either.  (source)
    contender = competitor
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    I've never been a contender in these Games anyway.  (source)
    contender = competitor (with a chance of winning)
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Show 10 more with 6 word variations
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    It's not easy trying to become a contender.  (source)
    contender = contestant (competitor) for a prize
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    From a scramble of contenders I got one of the jugs, elbowed off a counterattack, opened it, sampled it, choked, and then went through with my original plan by stopping Brinker's mouth with it.  (source)
    contenders = contestants (competitors)
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    He then continued with some remarks about the intellectual turmoil in this field of study, and about the contending schools of thought amongst alienists.  (source)
    contending = competing
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    ...neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. (16:10)  (source)
    contend = compete
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    "Salamander Army's in contention, anyway," Alai said.  (source)
    contention = competition to win
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.
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    The Houston schools, and any other noncontenders for the national title, are gone.†  (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "non-" in noncontenders means not and reverses the meaning of contenders. This is the same pattern you see in words like nonfat, nonfiction, and nonprofit.
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    Another right to the body, it looks like it was low … Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the referee is signaling but the contender keeps raining the blows on Louis.  (source)
    contender = competitor
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    Maybe he'd be one of the contenders, maybe he wouldn't have been picked at all ...it was hard to say if the risk would have been worth it in the end.†  (source)
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    "Instead of indulging in feelings of despondency let us compare our situation and cause to those of our illustrious ancestors who achieved the liberties we have ever enjoyed and for which we are now contending."  (source)
    contending = competing (trying to win)
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    I have drugged their possets That death and nature do contend about them, Whether they live or die.  (source)
    contend = compete
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