# defend

/dɪˈfɛnd/ (US) · /dɪfˈɛnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/defend
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to protect from attack

verb · CEFR B1

to protect someone or something from a physical attack or danger.

For teachers: to ward off an attack or protect a person, place, or object from physical harm.

- The soldiers worked through the night to defend the city from the approaching army.
- The fortress was strategically positioned on the cliffside to defend the harbor against naval incursions during the winter months.

### 2. to support an idea

verb · CEFR B2

to speak or write in favor of something when other people are criticizing it.

For teachers: to support or justify an action, idea, or person by argument or evidence.

- She had to defend her decision to quit her job when her parents questioned her.
- The professor spent the entire seminar defending his controversial thesis against a barrage of criticism from his peers.

### 3. legal representation

verb · CEFR B2

to act as a lawyer for someone who has been accused of a crime.

For teachers: to represent a defendant in a civil or criminal court case.

- A famous lawyer was hired to defend the man accused of the robbery.
- The public defender was tasked with defending the suspect, despite the overwhelming amount of forensic evidence presented by the prosecution.

### 4. sports

verb · CEFR B1

to try to stop the other team from scoring points.

For teachers: to focus energy on preventing the opposing team from scoring, or to protect one's own goal.

- The team needs to defend better if they want to win the championship this year.
- The coach instructed the players to defend aggressively in the final quarter to preserve their narrow two-point lead.

### 5. to keep a title

verb · CEFR B2

to compete in a competition that you won last time to try and win it again.

For teachers: to compete as the current champion in order to retain a title or trophy.

- The boxer will defend his world title in a match next month.
- Having won the tournament last year, she returned to the court under immense pressure to defend her ranking against younger challengers.

## Examples

- The soldiers fought hard to defend their city.
- The lawyer had to defend her client against several serious charges during the trial.
- While the captain was praised for how he chose to defend the goal, the manager had to defend the team's overall strategy to the press.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.