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Prepositions after verbs

Contend with, for, in, on or against?

Contend changes meaning depending on the preposition. With and for are the most common combinations.

Quick answer

Main meanings of contend

Use contend with for dealing with difficulties or competing against someone. Use contend for when competing to win something. Contend against is also possible in competitive contexts. In and on are less common and usually depend on wider sentence structure.

Small firms must contend with rising costs.
Three teams will contend for the title.
Athletes contended against experienced rivals.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
contend with + problem/opponent

Facing difficulty or competition

With introduces a challenge, opponent, or difficult situation.

Residents must contend with heavy traffic.
2
contend for + prize/position

Competing to obtain something

For introduces the goal or reward.

Several candidates are contending for the job.
3
contend against + opponent

Competing or struggling against someone

Against emphasises opposition.

The team contended against strong competition.
4
contend in + event

Taking part in an event

In usually refers to the competition or field itself.

She will contend in the national finals.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
contend with
We contended with severe delays.
deal with difficulties
contend for
They contended for first place.
compete to win something
contend against
The boxer contended against a champion.
oppose or compete against
contend in
Athletes contended in several events.
participate in a competition
contend on
They contended on economic policy.
rare and not standard in modern English; use contend over or contend about instead

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using on after contend

Contend on is not a standard modern combination for arguments.

✕ They contended on the issue. ✓ They contended over the issue.

Confusing with and for

With introduces the challenge; for introduces the goal.

✕ She contended for high prices. ✓ She contended with high prices.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Many families contend ___ rising rent costs.
2. Two players are contending ___ the championship.
3. The runners contended ___ the regional event.

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Frequently asked questions

Is contend formal?

Yes. Compete with or deal with are often less formal.

Can contend mean argue?

Yes. In formal English, contend can mean assert or argue a point.

Is contend against stronger than contend with?

Against emphasises opposition more directly.

calculate, by, calculate, in, calculate, from "call for" or "call on"? "campaign for" or "campaign against"? cancel by, due, at, in or for? capitulate to, in, like, by or after? captivate by, for, with, from or in? "capture by" or "capture in"? "care about" or "care for"? carry with, by, in, to or into? carve into, out, in, on or with? cast in, into, for, by or on? "catch in", "catch by" or "catch on"?

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