verb
bend
behnd
verb
1
To force something into a curved or angled shape.
"He bent the wire into a hook."
2
To curve or change direction.
"The road bends sharply just past the bridge."
3
To lean or stoop the body.
"She bent down to tie her shoelace."
4
To adapt rules or facts to suit a purpose.
"He bent the rules to let her in early."
noun
1
A curve, turn, or angle.
"There’s a dangerous bend just ahead."
How to Use Bend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo curve, angle, or change the shape or direction of something — or a curve itself.
Common pairings
bend the rules
a sharp bend
bend down
Word Forms
bent past tense, bended past tense, bends plural, bends singular
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The road _____ sharply just past the bridge.
Etymology
From Old English bendan, "to bend a bow" — from the same root as "bind" and "band," since bending a bow originally meant stringing it tight.