contend
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++con·tend /kənˈtend/ ●○○ verb 1 [intransitive]COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT to compete against someone in order to gain something 竞争；争夺contend for Three armed groups are contending for power. 三个武装集团在争夺权力。 Inevitably, fights break out between the members of contending groups. 争权夺利的几个团体之间不可避免地发生了打斗。2 [transitive]SAY/STATE to argue or state that something is true 声称，断言，主张 SYN insistcontend (that) Some astronomers contend that the universe may be younger than previously thought. 有些天文学家声称宇宙可能比原先认为的要年轻。3 contend with something phrasal verb DEAL WITHto have to deal with something difficult or unpleasant 必须处理，不得不应付〔困难、窘境〕 SYN cope with The rescue team also had bad weather conditions to contend with. 营救小组还得应付恶劣的天气情况。→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
contend• But they have to do more than contend.• These ten programs contend for a limited number of real and symbolic resources.• The government contended that most of the refugees were fleeing poverty, not persecution.• Proponents for moving Lindbergh to Miramar contend that the 24,000-acre Naval base contains a much better safety zone.• They contend that the commissioner is required by law to enforce the anti-redlining regulation, regardless of personal preference.• First Bank officials, however, contend they will find other means to bolster earnings and maintain their projections.• I know the charms of my rival are too powerful for me to contend with.contend for• Ten teams are contending for the title.contend (that)• Both men knew the claim was false, the historian contends.• Critics contend it motivates doctors to ration care.• His defence counsel contended that a suspended sentence would enable Chemouil to pay compensation to the victim.• They would not even contend that Dole maintained the lead he has enjoyed in the Granite State for months.• However, the Czech government contended that it could not afford to stop selling arms until substitute industries were in place.• BCohen contends that the 7-foot former basketball star slammed him against a store window and on to the ground.• Five months later, the Maharashtra government suspended work, contending the project was too expensive.• As well as grappling with the weakness of output, policymakers are contending with another emerging markets crisis.Origin contend (1400-1500) Old French contendre, from Latin contendere, from com- ( → COM-) + tendere “to stretch”con·tend verbChineseSyllable
to someone against gain to in Corpus order compete something
contend
con‧tend /kənˈtend/
verb
contend for
Three armed groups are contending for power.
Inevitably, fights break out between the members of contending groups.
2. [transitive] to argue or state that something is true
SYN insist
contend (that)
Some astronomers contend that the universe may be younger than previously thought.
contend with something phrasal verb
to have to deal with something difficult or unpleasant
SYN cope with:
The rescue team also had bad weather conditions to contend with.
▪ claim to say that something is true, even though it has not been proved: He claims that he didn’t see anything. | She claims to be a descendant of Charles Dickens.
▪allege to claim that someone did something wrong or illegal, although you do not give any proof: It is alleged that he murdered his wife. | Patients allege that the two firms failed to warn doctors about the dangers of taking the drugs over a long period.
▪maintain to repeatedly say that something is true, especially when other people do not believe you: He continued to maintain his innocence, even after he was sent to prison. | My mother always maintains that I learned to talk at six months.
▪insist to say very firmly that something is true: She insists that Tom was there, although he denies it. | Turkey insists that there is more than enough water in the two rivers for all three countries.
▪assert formal to state that something is true – used especially in formal writing when reporting someone’s opinion: They assert that children work better on their own. | The Environment Minister asserted that one third of the country’s cities had major pollution problems.
▪contend formal to claim that something is true, especially when other people disagree with you: Lawyers contend that his back problems were due to an existing injury, not the accident. | It is possible, as Kennedy contends, that her medical condition is caused by her work.
con‧tend /kənˈtend/
verb Date: 1400-1500
Language: Old French
Origin: contendre, from Latin contendere, from com- ( ⇨ COM-) + tendere 'to stretch'
1. [intransitive] to compete against someone in order to gain somethingLanguage: Old French
Origin: contendre, from Latin contendere, from com- ( ⇨ COM-) + tendere 'to stretch'
contend for
2. [transitive] to argue or state that something is true
SYN insist
contend (that)
contend with something phrasal verb
to have to deal with something difficult or unpleasant
SYN cope with:
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