contend

Word family

con·tend /kənˈtend/ verb

1 [intransitiveI]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 [transitiveT]SAY/STATE to argue or state that something is true 声称，断言，主张 SYN insist

contend (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 verbphr v 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。

Examples from the Corpus

had ... to contend with• The Maya were an agricultural people who had to contend with a capricious climate.• Apart from the pouring rain, we had to contend with mist - luckily we were on a clear path.• Toni, recently voted the Most Fanciable Object of Desire, had to contend with numerous assaults on to the stage.• And like almost everyone else in business in Britain today, farmers have had to contend with persistently high interest rates.• The same Southern private wrote graphically of another problem he and his comrades had to contend with, that of body lice.• Firefighters had to contend with triple-digit temperatures in many regions.• Sal was a rare visitor these days and Fon had enough to contend with up on Honey's Farm.• Apart from having to fight to save her home, she has had to contend with vitriolic press coverage.

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 verb

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus