bend
behnd
Bend (verb) means to force something into a curved or angled shape. Example: “The strong wind had bent the metal sign so far that it was unreadable.”
verb
1
To force something into a curved or angled shape.
"The strong wind had bent the metal sign so far that it was unreadable."
"Be careful not to bend the pages of the book too much."
"He bent the wire into a hook."
2
To curve or change direction.
"The river bends to the left near the old mill."
"Watch out where the path bends, because cyclists often come round it quickly."
"The road bends sharply just past the bridge."
3
To lean or stoop the body.
"You should bend your knees when you lift a heavy box."
"He had to bend over to hear what the little girl was saying."
"She bent down to tie her shoelace."
4
To adapt rules or facts to suit a purpose.
"Some people bend the truth a little when they tell funny stories."
"The teacher agreed to bend the deadline because of my illness."
"He bent the rules to let her in early."
noun
1
A curve, turn, or angle.
"The cyclist slowed down as he approached the sharp bend in the lane."
"There is a pretty bend in the stream behind our house."
"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
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Word forms
- Plural
- bends
- Third person singular
- bends
- Past tense
- bent, bended
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Be careful not to _____ the pages of the book too much.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for bend
See all rhymes for bend →Frequently asked questions
What does “bend” mean?
The word “bend” means to force something into a curved or angled shape. In plain terms, to curve, angle, or change the shape or direction of something — or a curve itself.
How do you pronounce “bend”?
“Bend” is pronounced behnd (/bɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “bend” in a sentence?
Here is “bend” used in a sentence: “The road bends sharply just past the bridge.”
What is another word for “bend”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bend” include bow, courb, curb, curl, curve and crook.
What is the opposite of “bend”?
The opposite of “bend” — its antonyms — are straighten, rectify, unbend, uncoil and uncurl.
What part of speech is “bend”?
Depending on how it is used, “bend” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “bend” come from?
The word “bend” comes from Old English. 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.
Is “bend” a common word?
“Bend” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between 'bend' and 'fold'?
To bend is to force something into a curve or angle, while to fold is to lay one part of something over another, usually creating a sharp crease. You bend a wire into a curve, but you fold a sheet of paper.
Is the past tense of 'bend' 'bended' or 'bent'?
The standard past tense and past participle of 'bend' is 'bent,' as in 'she bent the wire.' The older form 'bended' survives today only in the fixed expression 'on bended knee.'
What is the difference between 'bend' and 'bow'?
'Bend' is a general word for forcing something into a curve, while 'bow' often means to bend the head or upper body forward, especially as a sign of respect. All bowing involves bending, but not all bending is bowing.
What is the difference between 'bend' and 'twist'?
To bend is to curve something along its length into an arc or angle, while to twist is to turn something around its own axis. A road can bend to the left, but a cloth is twisted when its ends are turned in opposite directions.
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