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bend

[ bend ]

/ bɛnd /

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verb (used with object), bent or (Archaic) bend·ed; bend·ing.

to force (an object, especially a long or thin one) from a straight form into a curved or angular one, or from a curved or angular form into some different form: to bend an iron rod into a hoop.

to direct or turn in a particular direction: to bend one's energies to the task.

to cause to submit or yield: to bend someone to one's will.

to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances: to bend the rules.

to incline mentally (usually followed by to or toward): bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.

to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting.

Nautical. to fasten.

Archaic. to strain or brace tensely (often followed by up).

verb (used without object), bent or (Archaic) bend·ed; bend·ing.

to become curved, crooked, or bent: a bow that bends easily.

to assume a bent posture; stoop (often followed by over): to bend as one walks;to bend over and pick up something.

to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed: The road bent toward the south.

to yield or submit; give in.

to bow in submission or reverence: bending to one's monarch.

to direct one's energies: We bent to our work as the bell sounded.

noun

the act of bending.

something that bends; curve; crook: a bend in the road;a bend in the curtain rod.

Nautical. any of various loops or knots for joining the ends of two ropes or the like, or for joining the end of a rope or the like to some other object.

bends, Nautical.

thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
the wales of a vessel.

the bends, aeroembolism (def. 2).

OTHER WORDS FOR bend

1 curve, crook, flex, bow.

3 influence. mold, shape; compel, persuade, sway.

See synonyms for bend on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

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Idioms about bend

around / round the bend, Slang. insane; crazy: These interruptions will send me round the bend!

bend / lean / fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort: They bent over backward to make sure their guests were comfortable.

Origin of bend

First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb benden, binde, Old English bendan “to bind, bend (a bow)”; cognate with Middle High German benden, Old Norse benda; akin to Old Norse band “band, cord, confederacy”; see band³

synonym study for bend

10. Bend, bow, stoop imply taking a bent posture. Bend and bow are used of the head and upper body; stoop is used of the body only.

OTHER WORDS FROM bend

bend·a·ble, adjectivenon·bend·ing, adjectivere·bend·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby bend

bench test, benchwarmer, bench warrant, bench work, benchy, bend, Benda, Ben Day process, bend dexter, Bendectin, bended

Other definitions for bend (2 of 3)

bend²

[ bend ]

/ bɛnd /

noun

Heraldry.

a diagonal band extending from the dexter chief of an escutcheon to the sinister base.Compare bend sinister.
in bend, (of a charge) set diagonally or in a diagonal row.

Tanning. half of a trimmed butt or hide.

Origin of bend

First recorded before 1000; Middle English adjective bende; blend of Old English bend “band, fetter” and Middle French bende (Medieval Latin benda, binda ); see band², band³

Other definitions for bend (3 of 3)

Bend

[ bend ]

/ bɛnd /

noun

a city in central Oregon.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

MORE ABOUT BEND

What is a basic definition of bend?

Bend means to make something change its shape from straight to curved or to make someone submit. A bend is a curve or a turn. The word bend has several other senses as a verb and a noun.

If you bend something that is straight, you are forcing it into a curve or an angle. If you bend a drinking straw, for example, you are using your hands to force it to curve or to slant. If you bend something too far, it may snap or break. Something or someone that bends is a bender.

Real-life examples: A baker needs to bend dough to make a pretzel. Yoga includes a lot of bending forward and backward.
Used in a sentence: Jonah’s arms were so sore after lifting weights that he could barely bend his arms.

Bend can also be used to mean to become curved or angled. This sense is often followed by the word over or down when referring to a person bending to stoop down. The adjective bendy describes something as bending easily or having a tendency to bend.

Used in a sentence: I bent over and picked up all of the trash on the ground.

A bend is a curve or change in direction.

Used in a sentence: When driving, you need to be careful of sudden bends in the road.

Bend can also mean to make someone submit or yield or to submit to someone else.

Used in a sentence: Charlemagne forced the conquered people to bend to his will.

Armando bent to her demands because he had no other choice.

Where does bend come from?

The first records of bend come from before 1000. It ultimately comes from the Old English verb bendan, meaning “to bind” or “to bend (a bow).” Bend is related to the word band.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to bend?

bender (noun)
bendy (adjective)
bendable (adjective)
nonbending (adjective)
rebendable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for bend?

What are some words that share a root or word element with bend?

What are some words that often get used in discussing bend?

How is bend used in real life?

Bend is a common word used to mean to make something curved or to become curved.

It’s been 40 days since surgery and I can bend my leg 75 degrees!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽

— Lionel Torres (@Torreslionel3) November 6, 2018

I will spend a very long time redirecting my Roomba with my feet before I'll bend over to pick it up.

— amanda (@MandiJStewart) February 5, 2021

I bent my iPhone in my back pocket… and I kinda like it! 😂 It has a custom curved screen now 😎📱

— Ali-A (@OMGitsAliA) November 16, 2016

Try using bend!

Is bend used correctly in the following sentence?

I had to bend the envelope a little bit to get it to fit inside the mailbox.

How to use bend in a sentence

Adjust the screen’s brightness and contrast for comfort, and find a chair with arm rests that allows your child to sit with knees at a 90-degree bend and feet flat on the floor.
As stay-at-home restrictions rise, here are ways to cope|Washington Post Staff, Elizabeth Chang, Mari-Jane Williams, Becky Krystal, Kendra Nichols, Caitlin Moore, Stephanie Merry, Missy Rosenberg, Katherine Lee|December 2, 2020|Washington Post
I began to recognize the slight bends in each trail and measure distance by landmarks like couches and paint cans.
The Case for Hiking Ugly Trails|Krista Karlson|November 21, 2020|Outside Online
Bend, Oregon, via Central Oregon Most Oregonian visitors envision moss-covered trees and a verdantly green and dense tree canopy that lends itself to rain more than snow.
The best winter road trips for RVs, from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the Florida Keys|Heather Balogh Rochfort|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
The largest, just around the bend from Cymric 1Y, started in 2003.
Oil Companies Are Profiting From Illegal Spills. And California Lets Them.|by Janet Wilson, The Desert Sun, and Lylla Younes, ProPublica|September 18, 2020|ProPublica

It covers your backside when you need to pee in the desert—every female hiker knows what it’s like to try to time a bathroom break before someone rounds the bend—and it protects you from the sun while your swimsuit dries out.
In Praise of the Adventure Dress|Alison Van Houten|August 22, 2020|Outside Online
And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Clickbait title notwithstanding, Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Today, the train chugs north out of Kanchanaburi over the famous bridge before it hits a spectacular bend in the river.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway|Liza Foreman|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“They would bend my head back, put a towel over my face and pour water over the towel,” Harrison was quoted as saying.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built|Michael Daly|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After acknowledging that there has been a “bend in the curve” and a reason to hope, he warned against inaction.
Millions Promised for Ebola Not Adding Up|Abby Haglage|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But there was no shadow ahead of him this night; there was no somber thing to bend down the high serenity of his happy heart.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
Malcolm reined up, and soon a British officer appeared round a bend in the road.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Perry Thomas parted from us at the gate, and we stood watching his retreating figure till we lost it at the bend.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
We heard Aaron Kallaberger's stentorian tones as we clattered around the bend.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
The boy's knees began to bend under him, and he was reaching a long, thin arm out behind hunting for the bench.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd

British Dictionary definitions for bend (1 of 2)

bend¹

/ (bɛnd) /

verb bends, bending or bent

to form or cause to form a curve, as by pushing or pulling

to turn or cause to turn from a particular directionthe road bends left past the church

(intr; often foll by down , etc) to incline the body; stoop; bow

to submit or cause to submitto bend before superior force

(tr) to turn or direct (one's eyes, steps, attention, etc)

(tr) to concentrate (the mind); apply oneself closely

(tr) nautical to attach or fasten, as a sail to a boom or a line to a cleat

bend over backwards informal to make a special effort, esp in order to pleasehe bends over backwards to accommodate his customers

bend someone's ear informal to speak at length to an unwilling listener, esp to voice one's troubles

bend the rules informal to ignore rules or change them to suit one's own convenience

noun

a curved part, as in a road or river

nautical a knot or eye in a line for joining it to another or to an object

the act or state of bending

round the bend British slang mad; crazy; eccentric

Derived forms of bend

bendable, adjective

Word Origin for bend

Old English bendan; related to Old Norse benda, Middle High German benden; see bind, band ³

British Dictionary definitions for bend (2 of 2)

bend²

/ (bɛnd) /

noun

heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield

Word Origin for bend

Old English bend band ²; see bend 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for bend

bend

[ bĕnd ]

To incline the body; stoop.

Other Idioms and Phrases with bend

bend

In addition to the idioms beginning with bend

bend one's elbow
bend over backwards
bend someone's ear

also see:

around the bend
crook (bend) one's elbow
on bended knee

Also see underbent.

bend

OTHER WORDS FOR bend

Idioms about bend

Origin of bend

synonym study for bend

OTHER WORDS FROM bend

Words nearby bend

Other definitions for bend (2 of 3)

Origin of bend

Other definitions for bend (3 of 3)

MORE ABOUT BEND

What is a basic definition of bend?

Where does bend come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is bend used in real life?

Try using bend!

Words related to bend

How to use bend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bend (1 of 2)

Derived forms of bend

Word Origin for bend

British Dictionary definitions for bend (2 of 2)

Word Origin for bend

Medical definitions for bend

Other Idioms and Phrases with bend