bent on

Idioms  

1. Also, bent upon. Determined, resolved, as in Jamie is bent on winning the math prize. This phrase, first recorded in 1762, always uses the past participle of the verb bend in the sense of “tend toward.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bent on

Other prominent voices seem bent on convincing us that telework plays a significant negative factor in women’s career advancement.

From Salon ● May 10, 2026

But Standard Oil finally went under the knife in 1911, split into 34 separate companies that sometimes seem like they are bent on reunifying.

From Barron's ● May 2, 2026

The regular crowd shots of the waiting room too often reduce the afflicted into a zombie-like horde bent on making life more difficult for our beloved medical staff.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

Once again, a boy from here teams up with a girl from there to defeat a villainous schemer bent on cruel domination.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025

Beneath my laid-back college-kid demeanor, I lived like a half-closeted CEO, quietly but unswervingly focused on achievement, bent on checking every box.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama