defend

/di'fend/

Definition

Verb:
- To protect from harm or danger: To act to prevent someone or something from being attacked, injured, or criticized.
- To support or justify by argument: To speak or write in favor of someone or something that is being challenged or criticized.
- To compete to retain a title or position: In sports or games, to attempt to prevent an opponent from defeating you and taking your title.

Usage

Transitive Verb (defend someone/something): Used when the object being protected is stated.
- The soldiers defended the city.
- A good lawyer will defend her client vigorously.
Intransitive Verb: Can be used without a direct object, often in a general context.
- When criticized, he did not know how to defend.

Examples

Protecting from attack:
- The castle walls were built to defend against invaders.
- She raised her arms to defend herself from the blow.
Justifying by argument:
- The scientist defended her theory with new data.
- He felt compelled to defend his friend's reputation.
In sports/competition:
- The team will defend their championship title next season.
- It is harder to defend a title than to win it.

Advanced Usage

"defend against": To take action to protect from a specific threat.
- The software helps defend against computer viruses.
"defend to the death": To be willing to protect something at all costs, even risking one's life. (Idiomatic)
- He would defend his family's honor to the death.

Variants and Related Words

Defender (n): A person who defends someone or something.
- He is a fierce defender of human rights.
Defensible (adj): Able to be defended or justified.
- His actions were morally defensible.
Defensive (adj): Used or intended to defend or protect.
- The army took a defensive position.

Synonyms

Related Phrasal Verbs

Defend against: (As above) To resist or protect from an attack.
- The country must defend against economic sanctions.
Defend from: Similar to "defend against," used with the source of harm.
- The umbrella defended her from the rain.

Related Idioms

Circle the wagons: To become defensive and protect your own group from criticism or attack. (Implies a defensive stance similar to "defend.")
- When the scandal broke, the company circled the wagons.
Hold the fort: To defend a position or maintain a situation, often temporarily.
- Can you hold the fort at the office while I'm at the meeting?

Verb

state or assert
- He maintained his innocence
be the defense counsel for someone in a trial
- Ms. Smith will represent the defendant
protect or fight for as a champion
fight against or resist strongly
- The senator said he would oppose the bill
- Don't fight it!
protect against a challenge or attack
- Hold that position behind the trees!
- Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks
be on the defensive; act against an attack
argue or speak in defense of
- She supported the motion to strike

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