verb

mend

mehnd

verb

To repair something that is broken, torn, or damaged.

"She mended the torn shirt with a needle and thread."

"A local cobbler mended his old boots."

To put right a fault, error, or bad situation; to improve or correct it.

"They agreed to mend their differences before the wedding."

"He promised to mend his ways after the warning."

Of an illness, injury, or person: to heal or get better.

"The broken bone slowly mended over the summer."

noun

A repair, or the place where something has been repaired.

"You can barely see the mend in the sleeve."

Used in the phrase "on the mend": recovering, getting better after illness.

"She had the flu last week but she's on the mend now."

How to Use Mend

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo fix something broken, or to get better after being unwell or estranged.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "amend" (change a document or law) — "mend" is for repairing objects, health, or relationships.

Easily confused with

amend →

Common pairings

mend a fence mend one's ways on the mend mend a broken heart

Word Forms

mended past tense, mend plural, mended plural, mends plural, mends singular, mend singular, mendest singular, mended singular, mendedst singular, mendeth singular

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Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the torn shirt with a needle and thread.

Etymology

A shortened form of Middle English amenden ("to correct, improve, cure"), from Old French amender, from Latin ēmendāre — literally "to remove a fault," from ex- ("out") plus mendum ("fault, defect").

Rhymes for mend

end send bend lend fend tend spend blend fiend trend amend friend

See all rhymes for mend →