defend
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
defends;
defended;
defending
defends;
defended;
defending
Britannica Dictionary definition of DEFEND
1
:
to fight in order to keep (someone or something) safe
:
to not allow a person or thing to hurt, damage, or destroy (someone or something)
— often + from or against
[+ object]
-
We are prepared to defend [=protect, guard] our country.
-
They have every right to defend themselves from those who would hurt them.
-
The army defended the territory against invaders.
-
Her body was no longer able to defend itself against disease.
[no object]
— usually + against
-
These new weapons will make us better able to defend against attack.
-
The body's immune system defends against illness.
2
[+ object]
:
to fight or work hard in order to keep (something, such as a right, interest, cause, etc.) from being taken away
-
The group defends [=protects] the rights of the poor.
-
The company must defend its own interests.
3
[+ object]
:
to speak or write in support of (someone or something that is being challenged or criticized)
-
As a U.S. senator, it is my responsibility to defend [=uphold] the Constitution.
-
We believed it was a cause worth defending.
-
She defended her friend's behavior.
-
Stop defending him. What he did was wrong.
4
sports
:
to try to stop opponents from scoring
— often + against
[+ object]
-
Your job is to defend the goal.
-
Focus on defending the basket.
[no object]
-
He defended well throughout the game.
-
She tried to defend against the jump shot.
5
[+ object]
:
to compete in order to try to keep (a title, championship, etc.)
-
The team is looking to defend its national title. [=to win the national title again]
-
She successfully defended her championship. [=she won the championship again]
6
[+ object]
:
to work as a lawyer for (someone who is being sued or accused of a crime)
-
They hired a famous lawyer to defend their son.
-
She defended herself during her trial.
— defender
noun, plural defenders [count]-
The player got past two defenders.
-
She's a staunch/tireless defender of human rights.
— defending
adjective-
He lost to the defending champ. [=to the person who won last year]
-
This year, we are the defending world/national champions.
