mending

American  

[men-ding] / ˈmɛn dɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that mends.

2. articles, especially clothes, to be mended.

   Grandmother always kept her mending in this wicker basket.

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mending British  

/ ˈmɛndɪŋ /

noun

1. something to be mended, esp clothes

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Etymology

Origin of mending

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; mend, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

One of the biggest stars of the era was Shirley Temple, a sweet, ringleted child who comforted audiences by mending rifts in families and melting the hearts of tough guys.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

"You don't get many people mending raw cashmere," said Wade, whose role is to meticulously inspect and darn any defects in the fabric by hand, before it is washed, cut and shipped around the world.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

But inviting us to sit down with a show about mental health professionals mending their spirits is group therapy on a massive scale in a time of diagnosable disorder.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

With the Canada-US trade relationship increasingly unpredictable, Canada is seeking to bolster ties elsewhere, in some cases mending strained ties.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026

Fin was seated on a stool at her workbench, mending a gardening tool.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo