bend

verb \ ˈbend \

Definition of bend

bent play \ˈbent\; bending

transitive verb

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 a : to cause to turn from a straight course : deflect

bend a ray of light with a mirror

b : to guide or turn toward : direct

… bends his rapid steps in the direction of the headquarters …
—O. Henry

c : incline, dispose

bending their minds to the Buddhist concept of eternity
—Christopher Rand

d : to adapt to one's purpose : distort

bend the rules

5 : to direct strenuously or with interest : apply

bent himself to the task

6 : to make submissive : subdue

refusing to be bent

intransitive verb

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

3 : incline, tend

She bends to the Left politically.

4 : compromise 2

refusing to bend under pressure to change

bending to the will of wealthy supporters

—

bendable

play \ˈben-də-bəl\ adjective

— bend one's ear

: to talk to someone at length

— bend over backward or bend over backwards

: to make extreme efforts

had to bend over backward to get these tickets

See bend defined for English-language learners

See bend defined for kids

Examples of bend in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology of bend

Middle English, from Old English bendan; akin to Old English bend fetter — more at band

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

bend Synonyms

bend

noun

Definition of bend

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 : ¹wale 2 —usually used in plural

3 bends plural in form but singular or plural in construction : decompression sickness; also : intense joint pain occurring as a common manifestation of decompression sickness —usually used with the

a case of the bends

— around the bend

: mad, crazy

appears to have gone around the bend

Origin and Etymology of bend

see ¹bend

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

bend

noun

Definition of bend

1 heraldry : a diagonal band that runs from the dexter chief (see ³chief 1) to the sinister base (see ¹base 4) on a heraldic shield — compare bend sinister

[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