mend, repair, patch, rebuild mean to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective.
mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.
mended the torn dress
repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.
repaired the back steps
patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.
patch worn jeans
rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.
a rebuilt automobile engine
Example Sentences
Verb The town needs to mend these roads. Fishermen were mending their nets. Her arm mended slowly after surgery. His broken heart never completely mended. Noun You can hardly see the mend in the sleeve.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Jeff Klein’s newish West Hollywood private club — formerly a derelict bathhouse — has emerged as a go-to hang for stars and decision-makers to catch up, cut deals or mend fences (remember that Steven Spielberg and Ted Sarandos confab?). Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2022 Mission 66 revitalization efforts began in 1955 to mend deterioration that occurred during WWII.Fox News, 21 May 2022 In particular, Abrams helped mend relations after some Latter-day Saints performed proxy baptisms for Holocaust victims, angering many Jewish adherents. David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 June 2022 Rate increases can’t lower gas prices, mend supply chains or persuade people to seek out jobs. Rachel Siegel, Anchorage Daily News, 14 June 2022 Rate increases can’t lower gas prices, mend supply chains or persuade people to seek out jobs. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 First lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska convened a virtual summit in Kyiv where world leaders and Hollywood stars joined, asking for help mend the country and its people when the war ends.Fox News, 23 July 2022 Bruce, as Batman and as both a Wayne and an Arkham, is faced with the choice of which wounds to mend, and to have faith that the consequences will ultimately reconstruct Gotham for the better. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2022 My father was taught how to cook, how to mend his socks and sew on buttons, how to navigate public transportation.New York Times, 18 July 2022
Noun
Several other injured veterans remain on the mend, including Tommy Kahnle, Danny Duffy and David Price. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 After spending a few days in the hospital, Chin is now thankfully on the mend. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 With division races tightening up and wild-card battles gaining definition, a handful of stars are on the mend from injuries, many of them months-long, impactful absences. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 His son Zafar Rushdie said in a statement on Sunday that the writer was on the mend. Justine Browning, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2022 The sisters' relationship seemed on the mend as Kyle supported Kim through her recovery. Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 The Blink-182 star who has produced Kellz’s last two pop-punk albums has been on the mend from pancreatitis.cleveland, 14 Aug. 2022 But Ryder is on the mend, says Christina Hansen, shop steward and carriage driver, who is handling his care. Michael Roppolo, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2022 For Bob, the strangeness hit a week after the transplant, when Bobbie, at home and on the mend, cooked him dinner. Stephanie Mansfield, Good Housekeeping, 11 Aug. 2022 See More