Mend
/mɛnd/
verbnounA2
Definition
To mend something means to repair it so it works again or looks better. This can be clothes, objects, or even relationships. As a noun, mend refers to the repair itself or the place where something is fixed.
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See It in Action
To repair or fix something broken or damaged
- •She mended the hole in her sweater with some thread.
- •The mechanic mended the car’s engine after it stopped working.
- •I need to mend my broken glasses before school tomorrow.
The act or process of repairing something
- •After the mend, the jacket looked almost new.
- •The mend took a few hours but saved the old chair.
- •They did a quick mend on the fence to keep the dog inside.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "mend" like "fix" (A1 word), but often used for small or careful repairs, like sewing or patching
- ✓Picture a torn shirt with a needle and thread making the hole smaller or gone
- ✓It's the feeling of making something old or broken useful and whole again, like fixing a favorite toy
- ✓Sounds like "bend" → imagine bending a broken thing back into shape to mend it
- ✓Think of a story where a character mends a broken fence to protect their garden again
- ✓NOT like "break" (damage something), "mend" is the opposite—repair and make better
- ✓NOT like "replace" (get a new one), "mend" means to keep the original and fix it
- ✓NOT like "build" (make new from nothing), "mend" is about repairing what already exists
Try Other Words
- •Repair: to make something broken work again (Use when talking about fixing machines or bigger problems)
- •Fix: to make something right or working again (Use in everyday situations, very common)
- •Patch: to cover or fill a hole or crack (Use when the repair is small and covers a hole or tear)
- •Heal: to become healthy again (Use mostly for living things or feelings, not objects)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "mend" is a simple root word, no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "mendan," meaning to repair or correct
- •Historical development: Used for many centuries in English for repairing things or relationships
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for small repairs to clothes, objects, or fixing problems in general
- •Interesting fact: "Mend" is often used in phrases like "mend a fence" or "mend a heart," showing both physical and emotional repair
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you had to mend something important to you? How did it feel to fix it?
•How can the idea of "mend" apply to things that are not physical, like friendships or feelings?
Fill in the blanks
1.She tried to mend the torn shirt because it was her ___ sweater.
2.When a window breaks, someone needs to mend it quickly to keep the ___ out.
3.Unlike replacing a broken phone, to mend it means to ___ the original one.
4.After the argument, they worked hard to mend their ___ and be friends again.
5.The tailor mended the jacket ___ carefully to make it look like new.
6.You usually mend clothes with a needle and ___.
7.If something is easy to mend, it means it does not need a ___ repair.