FEND OFF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fend off mean? 

• FEND OFF (verb)
  The verb FEND OFF has 1 sense:

1. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

  Familiarity information: FEND OFF used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FEND OFF (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

avert; avoid; debar; deflect; fend off; forefend; forfend; head off; obviate; stave off; ward off

Context example:

avert a strike

Hypernyms (to "fend off" is one way to...):

forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent (keep from happening or arising; make impossible)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

It also highlights the fact that physical activity during aging can continue to help fend off bone decay.

(Physical Activity Brings Lasting Bone Benefits, NIH, US)

You can handle competition—indeed, your evolving success will feel exciting as you methodically grasp each goal, even the ones you have had to fend off others to achieve.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

It was an avalanche of fury that Johnson strove vainly to fend off.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The researchers selected for those microbial taxa that best survived on the plants, then showed that these "domesticated" microbial communities can fend off random microbes that land on the plants.

(How do you cultivate a healthy plant microbiome?, National Science Foundation)