fend off
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To defend against; to repel with force or effort
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
They tried citronella to fend off the mosquitos, to no avail.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To prevent (a vessel) from running against anything with too much violence.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “fend off” mean?
To defend against; to repel with force or effort
Is “fend off” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.