bend

[ bend ]

/ bɛnd /

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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

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bending

In this light, shutting down the Government rather than bending on legislation becomes a moral imperative.
The Tea Party Isn’t a Political Movement, It’s a Religious One|Jack Schwartz|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You must work standing up, bending over, and exerting yourself most or all of the time.
Ad's Message to Moms: If You Don’t Think Parenting Sucks, You’re Doing it Wrong|Andy Hinds|April 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bending, with a breaking heart, I touched the marble drapery with my lips, then crept back into the silent house.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While bending down to accept flowers from a school girl, Middleton's skirt flew up behind her.
Ann Demeulemeester to Exit Namesake Label; Kate Middleton Pulls a Marilyn Monroe|The Fashion Beast Team|November 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Bending to pressure, Obama announced a patch to health-care reform that will avoid more cancelled plans.
It Wasn’t Broke, But Obama Fixed It Anyway|Jamelle Bouie|November 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And Martine, bending toward the little fellow, kissed him good-night.
Brenda's Ward|Helen Leah Reed
I looked neither at him nor at her, but, bending away, laid my cheek upon her curls.
The Wings of Icarus|Laurence Alma Tadema
I opened my eyes to find her bending over me with such a look of fright and remorse upon her face as I shall never forget.
Richard Carvel, Complete|Winston Churchill
Mary, dear, she said, bending over her with an unusual infusion of emotion in her voice; darling child.
The Minister's Wooing|Harriet Beecher Stowe
Through the whole afternoon he snarled at Waddle; but Waddle sat silent, bending over the ledger.
Ralph the Heir|Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for bending

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

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 bending

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.

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.

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 bending

bend

[ bĕnd ]

v.

To incline the body; stoop.

Idioms and Phrases with bending

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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Idioms

Origin of bend

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for bending

bend

verb bends, bending or bent

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Word Origin for bend

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Word Origin for bend

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