bend

[ bend ]

/ bɛnd /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bend ON THESAURUS.COM

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).

Nearby words

benchmark position, benchmarking, benchrest, benchwarmer, benchy, bend, bend dexter, bend one's elbow, bend over backwards, bend sinister, bend someone's ear

Idioms

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

before 1000; Middle English benden (v.) Old English bendan to bind, bend (a bow); cognate with Middle High German benden, Old Norse benda; akin to Old Norse band band. See band³

SYNONYMS FOR bend

1 curve, crook, flex, bow.

3 mold, subdue, influence.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bend ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Synonym study

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.

Definition for bend (2 of 3)

bend

[ 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

before 1000; Middle English: coalescence of Old English bend band (see band³) and Middle French bende band²

Definition 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for bend

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
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
The city was described by V.S. Naipaul in his 1979 novel A Bend in the River as “a place where the future has come and gone.”
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“This is the key way to bend the curve,” Powell told The Daily Beast of the mission abroad in a September interview.
Ron Klain Will Be the Best Ebola Czar Yet|Tim Mak, Abby Haglage|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were just turning a bend of the road, when Paul chanced to look backward.
Paul Prescott's Charge|Horatio Alger
A young girl came around a bend, leading a small pig, and the child darted toward her.
Pappina, the Little Wanderer|Katherine Wallace Davis
About half an hour from the house, where the road made a bend towards Krantz Hoek.
Harley Greenoak's Charge|Bertram Mitford
They had covered about two miles when they came to a bend in the road, and there Andy called a halt.
The Rover Boys in the Land of Luck|Edward Stratemeyer
They swung around a bend in the trail and came upon the ashes of a recent campfire.
Slim Evans and his Horse Lightning|Graham M. Dean

British Dictionary definitions for bend (1 of 2)

bend

/ (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

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)

bend

/ (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

Word Origin and History for bend (1 of 3)

bend

Old English bendan "to bend a bow; confine with a string, fetter," causative of bindan "to bind," from Proto-Germanic base *band- "string, band" (cf. Old Norse benda "to join, strain, strive, bend"), from PIE root *bhendh- "to bind" (cf. Gothic bindan, Old High German bintan, Sanskrit badhnati "binds," Lithuanian bendras "partner;" Old Persian bandaka- "subject").

Modern sense (early 14c.) is via notion of bending a bow to string it. Cognate with band, bind, and bond. Related: Bended; bent; bending.

Word Origin and History for bend (1 of 3)

bend

n.1

"a bending or curving," 1590s; "thing of bent shape," c.1600, from bend (v.). Earlier "act of drawing a bow" (mid-15c.). The bends "decompression pain" first attested 1894.

Word Origin and History for bend (2 of 3)

bend

n.2

"broad diagonal band in a coat-of-arms, etc.," c.1400, from earlier sense of "thin, flat strap for wrapping round," from Old English bend "fetter, shackle, chain," from PIE *bhendh- (see bend (v.)).

Medicine definitions for bend

bend

[ bĕnd ]

v.

To incline the body; stoop.

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

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

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

noun

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of bend

Synonym study

Definition for bend (2 of 3)

bend

noun

Origin of bend

Definition for bend (3 of 3)

Bend

noun

Examples from the Web for bend

British Dictionary definitions for bend (1 of 2)

bend

verb bends, bending or bent

noun

Word Origin for bend

British Dictionary definitions for bend (2 of 2)

bend

noun

Word Origin for bend

Word Origin and History for bend (1 of 3)

bend

Word Origin and History for bend (1 of 3)

bend

Word Origin and History for bend (2 of 3)

bend

Medicine definitions for bend

bend

v.

Idioms and Phrases with bend

bend