# defending

/dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/ (US) · /dɪfˈɛndɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. protecting from attack

verb · CEFR B1

protecting someone or something from being hurt or damaged.

For teachers: acting to protect a person, place, or object from physical harm or aggression.

- The soldiers were busy defending the city from the approaching army.
- The coastal batteries were instrumental in defending the harbour against the naval blockade during the height of the conflict.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'against' or 'from'.

### 2. supporting an idea

verb · CEFR B2

speaking or writing in support of an idea or person when they are being criticized.

For teachers: providing justification or support for a belief, statement, or individual under scrutiny.

- She spent the whole meeting defending her choice to change the project's direction.
- The professor spent the better part of the seminar defending his controversial thesis against a barrage of criticism from his peers.

### 3. sports title

verb · CEFR B1

trying to win a competition that you won the previous time.

For teachers: competing to retain a championship or title won in a previous iteration of the event.

- The young tennis player is defending her title at the tournament this week.
- Defending a world title requires a different psychological approach than the initial pursuit of the championship.

### 4. the act of protection

noun · CEFR B2

the action of protecting something or the way a team plays to stop the other side from scoring.

For teachers: the action of protecting from attack; in a sporting context, the collective tactical effort to prevent the opponent from scoring.

- Their defending was excellent, and the other team couldn't get near the goal.
- The coach praised the team's disciplined defending, noting that their spatial awareness had improved significantly since the start of the season.

## Examples

- The soldiers are defending the city from the enemy.
- She spent the entire afternoon defending her research findings against the tough questions from the committee.
- In a court of law, a lawyer is responsible for defending their client regardless of personal opinion, ensuring that the legal process remains fair and balanced for every individual.

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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.