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Defend Very Common

Defend has 8 different meanings across 1 category:

Verb

Definitions
Verb
1

argue or speak in defense of

"She supported the motion to strike"

2

be on the defensive; act against an attack

"The team had to defend their home ground fiercely after the opposing side launched a surprise counterattack."

3

protect against a challenge or attack

"Hold that position behind the trees!"

"Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"

4

fight against or resist strongly

"The senator said he would oppose the bill"

"Don't fight it!"

5

protect or fight for as a champion

"The boxer stepped into the ring to defend his title against the challenger."

6

be the defense counsel for someone in a trial

"Ms. Smith will represent the defendant"

7

state or assert

"He maintained his innocence"

8

To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard.

"The knight rushed forward to defend his king from the charging enemy."

In plain English: To defend means to protect someone or something from being hurt, attacked, or criticized.

"The goalkeeper defended his net against the opponent's strong shot."

Usage: Use defend when actively protecting someone or something from an attack, while reserve the noun form defense for the act of protection itself. This verb requires a direct object indicating what is being protected and often pairs with prepositions like "against" or "from."

Example Sentences
"The goalkeeper defended his net against the opponent's strong shot." verb
"He tried to defend his friend during the heated argument." verb
"The team worked hard to defend their championship title this season." verb
"She defended her decision by explaining all the facts clearly." verb
See Also
defense defence protect defendest patriot self defense quadrilateral prophylactic
Related Terms
Antonyms
assail prosecute
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
argue prevent protect contend back affirm
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
apologize take sides with stand up uphold bulwark protect ward off check recalcitrate resist repel vindicate

Origin

The word defend entered Middle English from the Old French verb for "warding off," replacing an earlier native Germanic term with a similar meaning. Its roots trace back to Latin, where it originally described the action of warding someone or something away.

Rhyming Words
end bend hend vend lend pend send tend zend wend mend fend rend emend 3 end trend piend fiend shend anend
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