To look after or take care of oneself without assistance from anyone else. Moving to a new country for college really made me learn to fend for myself.I won't be home from work until about 9 o'clock, so you and your sister will have to fend for yourselves for dinner.You're going to have to learn to fend for yourself before you head off to college.
fend for
v.
To provide for, take care of, or defend someone without assistance: We watched the bear fending for her cubs as the hunters approached. I had to fend for myself when I arrived in Europe alone.