wend

1 of 2

verb

wended; wending; wends

intransitive verb

: to direct one's course : travel

transitive verb

: to proceed on (one's way) : direct

Wend

2 of 2

noun

: a member of a Slavic people of eastern Germany

Examples of wend in a Sentence

Verb We wended through the narrow streets. We wended our way through the narrow streets.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
The case wended its way through the El Dorado courts for several years before the grand jury returned indictments in 2022. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025 Terry was enrolled in a supervised release program during a brief arraignment proceeding Thursday, sparing him any jail time as his case wends its way through Bronx Criminal Court. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025 The Masters may be played from sunup to sundown, but the excitement generated by players wending their way around Amen Corner and jockeying for position atop the leaderboard at Augusta National or palling around with family during the Par 3 Contest doesn’t end when the final putt drops. Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025 Yet as the film wends its way through the narrow streets, harbors and glittering waters of Spain’s salty Galician coastline, immersing itself in chaotic gatherings of family and community, the title’s spiritual aspect takes on a rueful irony. Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wend

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English wendan; akin to Old High German wenten to turn, Old English windan to twist — more at wind entry 3

Noun

German Wende, from Old High German Winida; akin to Old English Winedas, plural, Wends

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wend was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Wend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wend. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

wend

verb
: to go one's way : proceed
wending their way home

More from Merriam-Webster on wend

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