bent
ˈbent 
; bending
; bending
1
: to constrain or strain to tension by curving
bend a bow
2
a
: to turn or force from straight or even to curved or angular
bend a pipe
b
: to force from a proper shape
Her bicycle's back wheel got bent in the crash.
c
: to force back to an original straight or even condition
bend the wire flat
3
: fasten
bend a sail to its yard
4
5
: to direct strenuously or with interest : apply
bent himself to the task
6
: to make submissive : subdue
refusing to be bent
1
: to curve out of a straight line or position
The road bends to the left.
tree limbs bending under the weight of the snow
bent down to pick up a piece of paper
bending double with pain
specifically
: to incline the body in token of submission
bend to the queen
2
: to apply oneself vigorously
bending to their work
4
: compromise sense 2
refusing to bend under pressure to change
bending to the will of wealthy supporters
plural bends
1
: the act or process of bending
doing knee bends
: the state of being bent
the graceful bends of Gothic windows
2
: something that is bent: such as
a
: a curved part of a path (as of a stream or road)
Their house is down the road, just past the bend.
b
nautical
: wale entry 1 sense 2
—usually used in plural
see also the bends
1
heraldry
: a diagonal band that runs from the dexter chief (see chief entry 3 sense 1) to the sinister base (see base entry 1 sense 8) on a heraldic shield compare bend sinister
2
[Middle English, band, from Old English bend fetter — more at band]
: a knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to some object
Synonyms
Examples of bend in a Sentence
Verb
bend a wire into a circle
bend the cable around a wheel
He bent the bow and shot an arrow from it.
His glasses got bent when he dropped them.
The trees were bending in the wind.
The branch will bend before it breaks.
She bent down to pick up a piece of paper and then she straightened up again.
He bent back to look up at the ceiling.
bend to the left and then bend to the right
Noun (1)
it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful
did knee bends for exercise
Recent Examples on the Web
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Deadlifts involve lifting a weight (typically a barbell) from the ground by bending at the hips and knees, keeping your back flat, then straightening up to a standing position.
—Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 15 Nov. 2024
Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024
Honestly, how has someone not gotten the bends on this show yet?
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bend 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Helen, on the other hand, has blossomed from dowdy to dazzling, and is now a best-selling author bent on revenge and wooing back Ernest.
Desperate, Madeline finds a potion endowing her with eternal youth — but with a few Faustian caveats.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Deadlifts involve lifting a weight (typically a barbell) from the ground by bending at the hips and knees, keeping your back flat, then straightening up to a standing position.
—Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
Side bends Put your right hand up in the air and lean to the left, then switch sides with your left hand up in the air and leaning to the right.
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024
Honestly, how has someone not gotten the bends on this show yet?
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bend
Dictionary Entries Near bend
Cite this Entry
“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bend. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bend
1 of 2 verb
bent
ˈbent
; bending
; bending
1
: to pull tight
bend a bow
2
: to curve or cause a change of shape
bend a wire into a circle
3
: to turn in a certain direction
bent their steps toward town
4
: to apply or apply oneself closely
she bent herself to the task
5
: to curve out of line
the road bends to the left
6
: to curve downward : stoop
bend over and pick it up
bend
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or process of bending : the state of being bent
2
: something (as a curved part of a stream) that is bent
3
plural
: a severe disorder marked by pain (as in joints), by difficulty in breathing, and often by collapsing and caused by release of gas bubbles (as of nitrogen) in the tissues upon too rapid a change from an environment of high air pressure to one of lower air pressure
called also caisson disease, decompression sickness
Geographical Definition
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