Defend Defended Dɪˈfend Defending Attack Verb Bre Troops

• troops have been sent to defend the borders.
• all our officers are trained to defend themselves against knife attacks.
• the male ape defends his females from other males.
• it is impossible to defend against an all-out attack.

defend

1. to protect somebody/something from attack
• Troops have been sent to defend the borders.
• All our officers are trained to defend themselves against knife attacks.
• The male ape defends his females from other males.
• It is impossible to defend against an all-out attack.
2. to say or write something in support of somebody/something that has been criticized
• How can you defend such behaviour?
• He defended his decision to punish the boy.
• Politicians are skilled at defending themselves against their critics.
3. to protect your own goal to stop your opponents from scoring
4. to take part in a competition that you won the last time and try to win it again
• He is defending champion.
• She will be defending her title at next month's championships.
• He intends to defend his seat in the next election.
5. to act as a lawyer for somebody who has been charged with a crime
• He has employed one of the UK's top lawyers to defend him.
• Smith has announced that she will defend herself in the case.

Extra Examples

• She defended her department against accusations of incompetence.
• She successfully defended herself against an attack from someone larger and stronger.
• The champion successfully defended his title against the American challenger.
• The city was heavily defended against attack.
• The company has strenuously defended its decision to reduce the workforce.
• They attacked the left flank, which was only lightly defended.
• He has announced that he will defend himself in the case.
• She has employed one of the UK’s top lawyers to defend her.
• She was quick to defend her husband’s actions.
• The minister vigorously defended the policy.
• Who’s defending?

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they defend
• he / she / it defends
• past simple defended
• past participle defended
• -ing form defending

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’. Compare with offend.