bent

[ bent ]

/ bɛnt /

See synonyms for bent on Thesaurus.com

adjective

curved; crooked: a bent bow; a bent stick.

determined; set; resolved (usually followed by on): to be bent on buying a new car.

Chiefly British Slang.

morally crooked; corrupt.
stolen: bent merchandise.

Chiefly British Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. gay (def. 1).

noun

direction taken, as by one's interests; inclination: a bent for painting.

capacity of endurance: to work at the top of one's bent.

Civil Engineering. a transverse frame, as of a bridge or an aqueduct, designed to support either vertical or horizontal loads.

Archaic. bent state or form; curvature.

SYNONYMS FOR bent

1 bowed, flexed.

2 fixed.

5 tendency, propensity, proclivity, predilection, penchant, partiality, leaning, bias.

See synonyms for bent on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bent

First recorded in 1525–35; originally past participle of bend¹

Words nearby bent

benoxaprofen, Bensenville, Benson, Benson's disease, bensulide, bent, bent grass, Bentham, Benthamism, benthic, benthon

Definition for bent (2 of 2)

bent²

[ bent ]

/ bɛnt /

noun

bent grass.

a stalk of bent grass.

Scot., North England. (formerly) any stiff grass or sedge.

British Dialect. a moor; heath; tract of uncultivated, grassy land, used as a pasture or hunting preserve.

Origin of bent

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; earlier benet-, bunet- (in compounds), Old English beonet-, beonot- (in placenames); cognate with Old High German binuz (compare German Binse ) “the rush plant”

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

Example sentences from the Web for bent

One detainee was bent over for a rectal feeding that involved Ensure, the protein shake.
Inside the CIA’s Sadistic Dungeon|Tim Mak|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Flagg, too, comes apart in his machinations, bent ever more fully on political domination.
McConaughey’s ‘Stand’—And Ours|James Poulos|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Eric Garner was bent over, wrestled down, spread out, and squeezed until he popped.
The Day I Used Eric Garner’s Voice|Joshua DuBois|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I was just like bent over, and he was saying all kinds of dirty stuff,” she said.
Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004|Marlow Stern|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He bent the truth throughout his life to ensure that he was known as the man who had invented the lie detector test.
Wonder Woman’s Creation Story Is Wilder Than You Could Ever Imagine|Tom Arnold-Forster|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He drew back a little, first checking to see if the guard was watching, then he bent down and looked into the jar.
The Egyptian Cat Mystery|Harold Leland Goodwin
She bent down her head and laid her lips on his hand that was in hers.
The Garden Of Allah|Robert Hichens
He bent his head down to the delicate little face at his side, and his tones were changed.
The Grandchildren of the Ghetto|Israel Zangwill
The visitor called early in the morning of the following day, and found Addie bent over her washtubs in the back yard.
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves|Work Projects Administration
Each of these was, then, bent on constructing a science out of a simple fact.
The Works of Honor de Balzac|Honor de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for bent (1 of 2)

bent¹

/ (bɛnt) /

adjective

not straight; curved

(foll by on) fixed (on a course of action); resolved (to); determined (to)

slang

dishonest; corrupt
(of goods) stolen
crazy; mad
British offensive homosexual

noun

personal inclination, propensity, or aptitude

capacity of endurance (esp in the phrase to the top of one's bent)

civil engineering a framework placed across a structure to stiffen it

British Dictionary definitions for bent (2 of 2)

bent²

/ (bɛnt) /

noun

short for bent grass

a stalk of bent grass

archaic any stiff grass or sedge

Scot and Northern English dialect heath or moorland

Word Origin for bent

Old English bionot; related to Old Saxon binet, Old High German binuz rush

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

bent

adjective

noun

SYNONYMS FOR bent

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

Origin of bent

Words nearby bent

Definition for bent (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of bent

Example sentences from the Web for bent

British Dictionary definitions for bent (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

British Dictionary definitions for bent (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for bent

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

bent

adjective

noun

SYNONYMS FOR bent

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

Origin of bent

Words nearby bent

Definition for bent (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of bent

Words related to bent

Example sentences from the Web for bent

British Dictionary definitions for bent (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

British Dictionary definitions for bent (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for bent