bend

¹

[bend]

verb (used with object)

bent , bended, bending .

1. 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.

   Synonyms: bow, flex, crook, curve

2. to direct or turn in a particular direction.

   to bend one's energies to the task.

3. to cause to submit or yield.

   to bend someone to one's will.

   Synonyms: sway, persuade, compel, shape, mold, influence

4. to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances.

   to bend the rules.

5. to incline mentally (usually followed by to ortoward ).

   bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.

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

7. Nautical.,  to fasten.

8. Archaic.,  to strain or brace tensely (often followed byup ).

verb (used without object)

bent , bended, bending .

1. to become curved, crooked, or bent.

   a bow that bends easily.

2. to assume a bent posture; stoop (often followed byover ).

   to bend as one walks;

   to bend over and pick up something.

3. to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed.

   The road bent toward the south.

4. to yield or submit; give in.

5. to bow in submission or reverence.

   bending to one's monarch.

6. to direct one's energies.

   We bent to our work as the bell sounded.

noun

1. the act of bending.

2. something that bends; curve; crook.

   a bend in the road;

   a bend in the curtain rod.

3. 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.

4. Nautical.,  bends,

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

   2. the wales of a vessel.

5. the bends, aeroembolism.

bend

²

[bend]

noun

1. Heraldry.

   1. a diagonal band extending from the dexter chief of an escutcheon to the sinister base.

   2. in bend, (of a charge) set diagonally or in a diagonal row.

2. Tanning.,  half of a trimmed butt or hide.

Bend

³

[bend]

noun

1. a city in central Oregon.

bend

¹

/ bɛnd /

verb

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

2. to turn or cause to turn from a particular direction

   the road bends left past the church

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

4. to submit or cause to submit

   to bend before superior force

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

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

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

8. informal,  to make a special effort, esp in order to please

   he bends over backwards to accommodate his customers

9. informal,  to speak at length to an unwilling listener, esp to voice one's troubles

10. informal,  to ignore rules or change them to suit one's own convenience

noun

1. a curved part, as in a road or river

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

3. the act or state of bending

4. slang,  mad; crazy; eccentric

bend

²

/ bɛnd /

noun

1. heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield

Other Word Forms

• bendable adjective
• nonbending adjective
• rebendable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bend¹

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”; band ³

Origin of bend²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English adjective bende; blend of Old English bend “band, fetter” and Middle French bende ( Medieval Latin benda, binda ); band ², band ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of bend¹

Old English bendan ; related to Old Norse benda , Middle High German benden ; see _bind , _band ³

Origin of bend²

Old English bend _band ²; see _bend ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. around / round the bend, insane; crazy.

   These interruptions will send me round the bend!

2. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing bend

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

I can see knots under the skin in the bends of his arm.

Read more on Salon

The name "chikungunya" comes from the Kimakonde language, meaning "that which bends up," a reference to the stooped posture caused by the severe joint pain that often accompanies the infection.

Read more on Science Daily

Vought’s long-term goals, he says, are to “bend or break the bureaucracy to the presidential will” and “deconstruct the administrative state.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There are a pleasantly surprising number of directorial flourishes in “Maigret”—a thoroughly modern home cast as eerily gothic, for instance; conversational pauses that bend the time limits of conventional TV.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I accepted the explanation, but years later, I wondered if it was supposed to bend that much,” he told Mr. Bacon.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bow 
• buckle 
• crouch 
• curl 
• flex 
• incline 
• lean 
• stoop 
• tilt 
• twist 
• veer 

When To Use

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.