bend

1 of 3

verb

ˈbend 

bent 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 sense 2

refusing to bend under pressure to change

bending to the will of wealthy supporters

bendable

ˈben-də-bəl 

adjective

bend

2 of 3

noun (1)

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

bend

3 of 3

noun (2)

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

Phrases

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

around the bend or British round the bend

: mentally unsound

appears to have gone around the bend

Synonyms

Verb

• arch
• hook
• curve
• bow
• curl
• twist
• turn
• swerve

Noun (1)

• curvature
• curve
• turn
• angle

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

Verb

Washing Charlie in the upstairs bathtub left the house covered in dirt and required his humans to bend over, straining their backs. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2025

Plant it in full sun and near a natural wind barrier, such as a fence, building, or larger plantings, to keep the plants from bending over. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025

Noun

The visitor center offers an overview of the rock art; the park managers don’t disclose the rock-art locations because the works are prone to erosion, but a web of hiking trails in the park introduces the stone overhangs and river bends that might once have provided refuge. —Elaine Glusac, AFAR Media, 26 June 2025

On the walk back to the observatory, our group reached a familiar bend in the path. —Michael Jones McKean, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

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

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bend

• around the bend
• bend a rule
• bend double
• bend sinister
• bend someone's ear
• bend/stretch the rules
• bend (the) facts
• bend the truth
• bend to the will of (someone)
• bend under one's own weight
• carrick bend
• fisherman's bend
• round the bend
• S-bend
• sheet bend
• U-bend

Rhymes for bend

• blend
• blende
• denned
• end
• fend
• friend
• lend
• mend
• penned
• send
• spend
• tend

Kids Definition

bend

1 of 2 verb

ˈbend 

bent ˈbent  ; 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 noun

1

: 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

Bend

geographical name

ˈbend 

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