[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/contend/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / contend # contend verb (contend, contends, contended, contending) «contend» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Contend with: to have to deal with a problem or difficulty: «Farmers have to contend with drought». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#m1) 2. To compete with others to win something: «Five teams are contending for the cup». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#m2) 3. (formal) To say firmly that something is true, especially in an argument: «She contends that the plan will fail». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#m3) ### In the lessons In sport, a «contender» is a team or person with a real chance to win. In news and history: people contend with floods, wars or poverty. In debates and essays, «X contends that…» introduces someone's argument or claim, which is useful for reporting views fairly. Phrases: «contend with», «contend for», «contend that», «a contender for the title». ### Examples - Explorers in Antarctica had to contend with freezing winds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#x1) - Three schools are contending for the trophy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#x2) - The scientist contends that the bones belong to a new species. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#x3) - Our team is a strong contender for the championship. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#x4) - Teachers contend with noisy classrooms every day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#x5) - Some people contend that school should start later. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#x6) - Various public performers contended for the prize. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/#x7) ### Note Past form: contended. Do not confuse «contended» with «contented» (happy and satisfied). The noun is «contention» (an argument; also «in contention» = with a chance to win) and a competitor is a «contender». In essays, «contend» shows a claim, not a proven fact. ## In Jewish tradition Means to quarrel or struggle with someone, and in a blessing, to fight on someone's behalf. In the prophets and Job it also means to argue or bring a case against someone, even against God. **Interpretation.** The tradition notes that Isaac's well was named Esek, "contention," to remember the quarrel, and Judah's blessing asks God to help his hands fight for him. Job and the prophets use it for a person or people arguing their case before God, and the tradition reads God's reply as showing that no one can win such an argument. ### Examples - And if men contend, and one smite the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keep his bed; (Torah EXO.21.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/contend/#x1) - And the herdmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdmen, saying: 'The water is ours.' And he called the name of the well Esek; because they contended with him. (Torah GEN.26.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/contend/#x2) - And this for Judah, and he said: Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him in unto his people; his hands shall contend for him, and Thou shalt be a help against his adversaries. (Torah DEU.33.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/contend/#x3) - Wherefore will ye contend with Me? (Prophets JER.2.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/contend/#x4) - Who is he that will contend with me? (Writings JOB.13.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/contend/#x5) - Shall he that reproveth contend with the Almighty? (Writings JOB.40.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/contend/#x6) ### Note Past form: contended. Do not confuse «contended» with «contented» (happy and satisfied). The noun is «contention» (an argument; also «in contention» = with a chance to win) and a competitor is a «contender». In essays, «contend» shows a claim, not a proven fact. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «contend» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/contend/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«contend» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/contend.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «contend» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/contend/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«contend» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/contend.html) on Mova free.