defend
Other forms: defended; defending; defends
Defend has different shades of meaning, but it always has the sense of protecting something — your ideas, for instance, or your title as world heavyweight champion.
If you order the blood sausage and lamb when you're out to eat with your vegan friends, you may have to defend your eating habits, meaning speak up in support of your choices. Defend can also be something more concrete, like when you defend your property or your country. The lawyer who represents someone accused of a crime is there to defend the accused person — who is called the defendant — and to argue his case in court.
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protect against a challenge or attack
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protect or fight for as a champion
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fight against or resist stronglysynonyms: fight, fight back, fight down, opposetypes:recalcitrateshow strong objection or repugnance; manifest vigorous opposition or resistance; be obstinately disobedientstand outbe stubborn in resolution or resistancestand uprefuse to back down; remain solid under criticism or attackoutbraveresist bravelyhold offresist and fight to a standoff
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be on the defensive; act against an attackantonyms:attacklaunch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare withtypes:bulwarkdefend with a bulwarkward offavert, turn away, or repelarrest, check, contain, hold back, stop, turn backhold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence ofcover forprovide an excuse or alibi for someone so as to cover up guiltoverprotectprotect excessivelylook outto protect someone's interestscoverhold within range of an aimed firearmcharmprotect through supernatural powers or charmssafeguardmake safecoverprotect or defend (a position in a game)coverbe responsible for guarding an opponent in a gamemothproofprotect from mothsbody guardaccompany and protect from physical harminsuretake out insurance forcoverto take an action to protect against future problems
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argue or speak in defense oftypes:apologise, apologize, excuse, justify, rationalise, rationalizedefend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoningupholdstand up for; stick up for; of causes, principles, or idealspleadoffer as an excuse or plea
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state or assert
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be the defense counsel for someone in a trial
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Vocabulary lists containing defend
A thorough survey of various textbooks, assignments, content area standards, and examinations yields the following list of words compiled by Jim Burke. You cannot expect to succeed on assignments if you do not understand the directions.
Veterans Day is observed on November 11th in the United States as a day to honor all military personnel, whether they served in times of war or peace. The official holiday began in 1919 as Armistice Day, a year after the date that marked the end of World War I. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a law that changed the name of this national holiday to Veterans Day.
Context is king — that’s the lesson you need to internalize as you begin preparing for the vocabulary questions on the SAT. We have identified this pool of 200 words that cut across the disciplines and lend themselves well to context-dependent interpretation. As you learn this list on Vocabulary.com, you will have to rely on context clues in order to determine each word’s meaning in particular sentences. This is the same type of thinking you will need to develop in order to succeed on the SAT! Following our Roadmap to the SAT? Head back to see what else you should be learning this week.