defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

DEFEND definition: 1. to protect someone or something against attack or criticism: 2. to speak or write in support of…. Learn more.

Definition of defend verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack: to defend one's country. To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe: to guard a camp. To preserve is to keep safe in the midst of …

These verbs mean to make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm. Defend implies repelling or being ready to repel an attack: The army defended the border against the enemy. The …

Find 742 different ways to say DEFEND, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

Defend, guard, preserve, protect all mean to keep safe. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack: to defend one's country. To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe: to …

There are 28 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb defend, 12 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Nov 11, 2025 · defend (third-person singular simple present defends, present participle defending, simple past and past participle defended) (transitive) To ward off attacks against; to fight to …

The group defends [= protects] the rights of the poor. The company must defend its own interests.