bent

1 of 3

adjective

ˈbent 

1

: changed by bending out of an originally straight or even condition

bent twigs

standing with knees slightly bent

2

: strongly inclined : determined

—usually used with on

was bent on going

3

slang

a

: different from the normal or usual

… she was so bent that she's probably a woman who ought to be locked up somewhere …

—Robert Redford

b

chiefly British : dishonest, corrupt

a bent cop

c

chiefly US : intoxicated, drunk

Like to get bent? This hangover beater will help you get back on track.

—Vibe

bent

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

a

: a strong inclination or interest : bias

the organization's religious bent

b

: a special inclination or capacity : talent

students with a scientific bent

2

: capacity of endurance

They fool me to the top of my bent.

—Shakespeare

3

engineering : a transverse framework (as in a bridge) to carry lateral as well as vertical loads

bent

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: unenclosed grassland

2

botany

a(1)

: a reedy grass (see grass entry 1 sense 2)

(2)

: a stalk of stiff coarse grass

b

: bent grass

Phrases

bent out of shape

: extremely upset or angry

get bent

slang

—used as an angry or contemptuous way of dismissing someone's statement, suggestion, etc.

I try to call him the next morning to apologize, but he tells me to get bent.

—Chuck Klosterman

Synonyms

Adjective

• crooked
• deceptive
• fraudulent
• shady
• dishonest

Noun (2)

• tendency
• inclination
• devices
• aptitude
• affinity
• knack

Choose the Right Synonym for bent

gift, faculty, aptitude, bent, talent, genius, knack mean a special ability for doing something.

gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

Examples of bent in a Sentence

Adjective

With your knees slightly bent, bend forward and touch your toes.

the drug dealer knew which of the cops were bent

Noun (2)

the perfect gift for a person of a literary bent

having a decided bent for languages, he picked up Italian in no time

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Despite having his knee bent awkwardly, gruesomely inward, Muncy escaped with only a bone bruise. —Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025

El Tri advanced with a 1-0 win over Honduras in the semifinals, a match defined by Raúl Jiménez’s poise in the box and a back line that bent but didn’t break. —Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 5 July 2025

Noun

The larger piece features three of these women, each with one knee bent and the other leg extended. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2025

Sparks flew, a wing bent, and the landing gear snapped off as the silver Lockheed Electra 10-E plane smashed into the runway at Luke Field, outside Honolulu. —Laurie Gwen Shapiro, New Yorker, 2 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from past participle of benden to bend

Noun (1)

irregular from bend entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English, grassy place, bent grass, from Old English beonot-; akin to Old High German binuz rush

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bent

• bent grass
• bent out of shape
• get bent
• hell-bent

Rhymes for bent

• blent
• cent
• ent
• fent
• lent
• meant
• pent
• rent
• rente
• scent
• sent
• spent

Kids Definition

bent

1 of 3 noun

ˈbent 

: bent grass

bent

2 of 3 adjective

1

: changed by bending : crooked

a bent pin

2

: strongly favorable to : quite determined

doctors bent on finding a cure

bent

3 of 3 noun

1

: a strong natural liking

2

: a special inclination or capacity : talent

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bent "grassy place, bent grass"

Adjective

Middle English bent "crooked," from benden "to bend"

Noun

from bend "to turn in a certain direction"