WordWeb Online

1. Try to manage without help
   "The youngsters had to fend for themselves after their parents died"
    
2. Withstand the force of something
   "The mountain climbers had to fend against the ice and snow";
   - resist, stand

Derived forms: fending, fends, fended

Type of: contend, cope, deal, defend, dispute, fight, fight back, fight down, get by, grapple, make do, manage, oppose

Encyclopedia: Fend, Peter