wend

1 of 2

verb

ˈwend 

wended; wending; wends

intransitive verb

: to direct one's course : travel

transitive verb

: to proceed on (one's way) : direct

Wend

2 of 2

noun

ˈwend 

: a member of a Slavic people of eastern Germany

Examples of wend in a Sentence

Verb

We wended through the narrow streets.

We wended our way through the narrow streets.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

If the musicians’ visibility and viability has shifted, Sparks’ music remains inventive, brainy and flamboyant pop, often born of sunshiny moments and wistful memories that wend their way into lyrics. —Katherine Turman, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

There are easy walks to challenging hikes open most of the year that wend through hardwood forests, ridges of dunes and extensive wetlands. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 15 Apr. 2025

The case wended its way through the El Dorado courts for several years before the grand jury returned indictments in 2022. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025

Terry was enrolled in a supervised release program during a brief arraignment proceeding Thursday, sparing him any jail time as his case wends its way through Bronx Criminal Court. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English wendan; akin to Old High German wenten to turn, Old English windan to twist — more at wind entry 3

Noun

German Wende, from Old High German Winida; akin to Old English Winedas, plural, Wends

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1786, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wend

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

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Kids Definition

wend

verb

ˈwend 

: to go one's way : proceed

wending their way home