to contend

USAGE SUMMARY

"to contend" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean "to argue or debate" or "to put forward or offer an opposing argument." For example, "The two debaters were vying to contend their views on the controversial topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There were greater things to contend with.

The New York Times - Arts

"You have to contend with it.

The New York Times

Then, there were fiefdoms to contend with.

The New Yorker

Ferguson had other problems to contend with.

The New York Times - Sports

They had another tournament to contend for.

The New York Times

He's someone to contend with.

The New York Times - Sports

Now he has Anderson to contend with.

The Guardian - Sport

"People don't need to contend every issue.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, we had Vika to contend with.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There are other issues to contend with.

The Guardian

That's what you have to contend with.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to contend" when you want to express a formal disagreement or competition. It suggests a deliberate effort to challenge or dispute something.

Common error

Avoid using "to contend" in everyday conversation. It sounds too formal and stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "to deal with" or "to handle" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to contend" primarily functions as an infinitive, often used with "to be" or "to have" to express necessity or possibility. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the analysis shows that "to contend" is a grammatically correct and frequently used infinitive phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It primarily serves to express opposition or challenge, commonly appearing in news, media, and formal business contexts. When writing, it's important to be mindful of the tone and avoid overusing it in informal settings where simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. Key related phrases include "to assert", "to maintain", and "to argue", each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to argue

Highlights the presentation of reasons for or against something.

to assert

Focuses on stating something firmly as true.

to maintain

Emphasizes the act of upholding or defending a position.

to confront

Focuses on facing a challenge or opponent directly.

to tackle

Suggests a direct and forceful approach to a problem.

to compete

Highlights the act of striving against others to achieve a goal.

to struggle

Emphasizes the difficulty and effort involved.

to cope

Implies dealing with difficulties or challenges.

to grapple

Implies a close and often physical struggle.

to deal with

Suggests managing or handling a situation.

FAQs

How to use "to contend" in a sentence?

You can use "to contend" to express disagreement or competition, such as "The lawyers will "argue" the evidence" or "The athletes will "compete" for the gold medal".

What can I say instead of "to contend"?

You can use alternatives like "to assert", "to maintain", or "to argue" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "to contend" or "to pretend"?

"To contend" means to argue or struggle, while "to pretend" means to feign or simulate. They have completely different meanings and are not interchangeable.

What's the difference between "to contend" and "to cope"?

"To contend" implies a struggle or competition, while "to cope" suggests managing or dealing with something, often a difficult situation. The former involves opposition, the latter involves endurance.