will contend

USAGE SUMMARY

"will contend" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing a future argument, competition, or assertion. Example: "She will contend that her approach is the most effective." Alternative expressions include "will argue" and "will assert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mr. Clement will contend that the entire law must fall.

The New York Times

Rather than a single Big Brother, we will contend with thousands of "peeping.coms".

The Economist

Montgomerie remains a huge fan of the 22-year-old and declares "he will contend".

Independent

Drilling crews will contend with dense fogs, drifting ice, months of darkness and gales.

The New York Times

If Brady stays healthy, the Patriots will contend for another title.

The New York Times

The company will contend that the delay is necessary because of the change in management.

The New York Times

The total cost of mental ill health in business is £20bn, he will contend.

The Guardian

"They came for the rich last time," David Cameron will contend.

The Guardian - Opinion

Three will contend among themselves till one becomes the master of his colleagues.

The New York Times

We will meet them, we will match them, we will contend with them.

The New York Times

But the pressure remains to pick a team that will contend.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In sports journalism, use it to describe teams or athletes who are expected to reach the final stages or compete for a championship.

Common error

Avoid using "will contend" when you mean "will be content". The former implies an active struggle or argument, while the latter refers to a state of satisfaction. Ensure the verb form is used for action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will contend" serves as a future tense verb construction. It combines the modal auxiliary "will" with the base form of the verb "contend" to indicate a future action or state. As seen in Ludwig, it often functions as a reporting verb in legal and journalistic contexts to introduce a predicted argument or stance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Social Media

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will contend" is a versatile and correct future tense phrase that spans across legal, sports and scientific domains. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently used to introduce a future argument (often followed by "that") or to describe an entity's participation in a competition (often followed by "for" or "with"). Its presence in high-authority sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability in formal writing. Writers should distinguish between its meanings of 'arguing' and 'competing' to ensure clear communication in both professional and journalistic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will argue

More specific to legal or logical debate rather than competition.

will compete

Used specifically for sports or contests where there is a winner.

will assert

Carries a stronger tone of making a firm statement of fact.

will vie

Literary and formal, usually followed by 'for' a specific prize.

will maintain

Implies continuing a previously stated argument or position.

will face

Focuses on the encounter with difficulties rather than the act of fighting them.

will claim

Suggests making an assertion that may not yet be proven.

will struggle

Emphasizes the difficulty or effort involved in the process.

will grapple

Specifically used for dealing with complex or abstract issues.

will battle

Adds a more intense, confrontational connotation to the effort.

FAQs

How do I use "will contend" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a future argument, such as: "The defense "will contend" that the witness is unreliable." or in sports: "The team "will contend" for the title this year."

What can I say instead of "will contend"?

Depending on your context, you can use "will argue", "will compete" or "will assert".

What is the difference between "will contend for" and "will contend with"?

Use "contend for" when referring to a prize or goal (e.g. "contend for the gold medal") and use "contend with" when referring to a challenge or opponent (e.g. "contend with bad weather").

Is "will contend" formal or informal?

It is generally considered a neutral to formal expression, appearing frequently in news sources like "The New York Times" and academic journals.