bend

play

verb \ˈbend\

Definition of bend

bent

play \ˈbent\;

bending

transitive verb
1 : to constrain or strain to tension by curving bend a bow
2a : to turn or force from straight or even to curved or angular bend a pipeb : 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
4a : to cause to turn from a straight course : deflect bend a ray of light with a mirrorb : to guide or turn toward : direct … bends his rapid steps in the direction of the headquarters … — O. Henryc : incline, dispose bending their minds to the Buddhist concept of eternity — Christopher Randd : 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

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

See Words from the same year

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 asa : 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

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
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

Origin and Etymology of bend

Middle English, from Middle French bende, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German binta, bant band — more at band

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Bend

play

geographical name \ˈbend\

Definition of Bend

city on the Deschutes River in central Oregon population 76,639

BEND Defined for English Language Learners

bend

play

verb

Definition of bend for English Language Learners

: to use force to cause (something, such as a wire or pipe) to become curved
: to curve out of a straight line or position
: to move your body so that it is not straight

BEND Defined for Kids

bend

play

verb \ˈbend\

Definition of bend for Students

bent

\ˈbent\;

bending

1 : to make, be, or become curved or angular rather than straight or flat Bend the wire into a circle.
2 : to move out of a straight line or position The road bends to the left. Bend over and pick it up.
3 : to not follow or tell exactly bend the rules bend the truth