1
contend with/against sb/sth
介词with/against表示对抗的对象。
The team must contend with several strong opponents.
该队必须与几个强劲的对手竞争。
声称，断言
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
声称，断言
to assert or claim something, especially in an argument
The team must contend with several strong opponents.
该队必须与几个强劲的对手竞争。
对抗；争论；竞争；争吵；战斗
To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
努力争取或保留所有权,或进行防卫
To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
参与辩论；进行讨论；争论；辩论
To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
认为(某事合理)并为之辩护；主张
To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.
contend
Base
原形
contends
3rd person
第三人称单数
contending
-ing
现在分词
contended
Past
过去式
contended
Past participle
过去分词
She contends that the policy is unfair.
她声称这项政策不公平。
They contended for the championship.
他们争夺冠军。
He has contended with many difficulties.
他与许多困难作斗争。
作'竞争'时常用contend with/for/against；作'声称'时后接that从句。
Several companies are contending for the contract.
几家公司正在竞争这份合同。
He had to contend with a sudden storm during his hike.
他在徒步旅行中不得不应对突如其来的暴风雨。
The expert contends that the data supports her theory.
这位专家声称数据支持她的理论。
介词with/against表示对抗的对象。
The team must contend with several strong opponents.
该队必须与几个强劲的对手竞争。
for表示争夺的目标。
Three candidates are contending for the presidency.
三位候选人正在角逐总统职位。
用于正式场合，引出主张或断言。
Some historians contend that the decision was a mistake.
一些历史学家声称这个决定是个错误。
Not this
He contended his innocence.
Use this
He contended that he was innocent.
当 contned 表示‘声称’时，是及物动词，但必须接 that 从句，不能直接接名词作宾语。这里的 correction 补上了 that 从句，使语法正确。
Not this
They contended the championship.
Use this
They contended for the championship.
当 contned 表示‘竞争’时，是不及物动词，需要加介词 for 引出竞争的目标。中国学习者常受中文‘竞争冠军’的及物用法影响，漏掉介词。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
与…竞争；应付
Small businesses must contend with rising costs.
小企业必须应付不断上涨的成本。
为…竞争
Three teams are contending for the championship.
三支队伍正在争夺冠军。
与…抗争
They had to contend against strong winds.
他们不得不与强风抗争。
声称…；认为…
The lawyer contended that his client was innocent.
律师声称他的当事人是无辜的。
对付，与…斗争
She had to contend with many difficulties.
她不得不应付许多困难。
为…竞争/斗争
Three teams are contending for the championship.
三支队伍在争夺冠军。
Use contend naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
con一起，tend伸展→一起伸展争夺→竞争斗争
多用于正式场合，如体育比赛、学术辩论或商业竞争。通常与with/for/against搭配。
作‘竞争’解时通常用contend with/for/against；作‘声称’解时为及物动词，后接that从句。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.