bent

1 of 2

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

2 of 2

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

Synonyms of bent

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

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

Noun

The restaurant has evolved significantly over the past 30 years, amplifying its bent towards Greek cuisine and decor alike. —Philip Freeman, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026

Advertisement The tax sparked fierce resistance, especially among western Pennsylvania farmers, who saw it as a sign of the federal government's tyrannical bent, and organized protests that escalated into the tarring and feathering of tax collectors. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 25 May 2026

But Castle’s bent helps shape the way the Spurs defend, compete and respond. —Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 22 May 2026

There’s a bohemian bent—Chloé is a favorite, as is a trusty turquoise ring—as well as a subtle nod to the beach. —Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

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"