Contend vs Content

‘Content’ and ‘contend’ are only a letter apart but their meanings are vastly different.

Contend

‘Contend’ is only used as a verb, and it is usually paired with prepositions ‘with’ and ‘against’, giving us phrasal verbs ‘contend with’ and ‘contend against’

Definitions

1. Struggle to overcome a difficulty

2. Assert in an argument

Content

‘Content’ can be used a noun, verb and adjective.

Definitions

Verb

1. Satisfy (someone)

2. Accept as okay although things could be better (content oneself with)

Noun

1. A state of satisfaction

Adjective

1. In a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction

The adjectival form is the most important as it is most frequently used by pupils.

So when you want to say you are perfectly happy with a situation (very common happenstance at the end of your composition when all problems have been resolved satisfactorily), you should say, ‘I went to bed, contented that justice had been served.’