What does contending mean?
"Contending" is the present participle of the verb "contend," which has two closely related strands of meaning. The older sense is to strive or struggle against difficulty, hardship, or opposition: athletes contend with injury, politicians contend with criticism, and sailors contend with storms. From this grows the competitive sense — to vie against rivals for a prize or position, as when several teams are contending for a championship. A third sense, common in formal argument, is to assert or maintain a claim: a scholar may contend that a long-held theory is wrong. The word derives from Latin contendere, formed from com- ("together") and tendere ("to stretch"), originally suggesting rival stretching or straining toward the same goal. Because it implies effortful engagement rather than casual participation, "contending" carries a tone of determination and earnestness, which suits the formal registers of journalism, law, and academic prose where it most often appears.
To struggle or strive against difficulty, opposition, or a rival; to compete for something; or to assert and argue that something is true.
"Several candidates were contending for the party's nomination when the scandal broke."
Usually followed by "with," "against," "for," or a that-clause depending on the sense.
As a gerund, the act of striving, struggling, or competing against opposition.
"Their contending over the estate dragged on for years."
Rare compared with the noun "contention," which is preferred in most contexts.
"Contend" comes straight from Latin contendere — literally "to stretch toward" — so every contender is, word-for-word, someone straining toward a goal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of contending
"Contending" traces back to Latin contendere, meaning to strive or compete, formed by combining com- ("with, together") with tendere ("to stretch"). The image behind the compound was of people straining or stretching toward the same thing, hence rivalry. The verb passed into English via Old French in the medieval period, and its derivative forms — contention, contentious, contender — developed alongside it. It shares its root tendere with English words such as attend, extend, tend, and portend.
Related word forms
How contending is actually used
Contending carries a connotation of sustained effort against real resistance, giving it a more formal, often literary register than everyday words like competing or arguing. In political and journalistic writing it frequently appears in phrases such as "contending factions" or "the contending parties," while in legal and academic contexts it often introduces an assertion, as in "he contends that…."
Easily confused with contending
Contenting means making or being satisfied and at peace, whereas contending means struggling or competing against opposition.