bent
9 synonyms and 0 antonyms for bent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Curved, folded, or twisted out of its original straight shape.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use bent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
"Bent" meaning corrupt is chiefly British informal usage, especially for dishonest police officers or officials.
Etymology
From the past-tense and past-participle forms of Middle English benden, "to bend."
Full origin of bent →Frequently asked questions
What does “bent” mean?
The word “bent” means curved, folded, or twisted out of its original straight shape. In plain terms, physically curved or twisted, or, figuratively, someone who is corrupt or firmly set on doing something.
How do you pronounce “bent”?
“Bent” is pronounced behnt (/bɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “bent” in a sentence?
Here is “bent” used in a sentence: “The bike's front wheel was badly bent after the crash.”
What is another word for “bent”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bent” include predilection, proclivity and propensity.
What part of speech is “bent”?
Depending on how it is used, “bent” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “bent” come from?
The word “bent” comes from Middle English. From the past-tense and past-participle forms of Middle English benden, "to bend.".
Is “bent” a common word?
“Bent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “bent” have?
“Bent” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: curved, folded, or twisted out of its original straight shape.
Is it "bent" or "bended"?
The normal past tense and past participle of bend is bent: "she bent the wire," "the frame got bent." Bended survives only in the fixed expression on bended knee (or knees), used for proposals and earnest pleading.