Defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. Defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack:
Defend implies repelling or being ready to repel an attack: The army defended the border against the enemy. To protect someone or something against attack or criticism:
Definition of defend verb in oxford advanced learner's dictionary. Defend, guard, preserve, protect all mean to keep safe. Jan 20, 2026defend (third-person singular simple present defends, present participle defending, simple past and past participle defended) (transitive) to ward off attacks against;
The group defends [= protects] the rights of the poor. The company must defend its own interests. If you defend someone or something, you take action in order to protect them.
Every man who could fight was now committed to defend the ridge. [verb noun] his courage in defending religious and.
