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.”

---

Example Sentences

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

"The future belongs to those who innovate, and Israel and India are bent on innovation," Netanyahu said on Thursday, standing next to Modi.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

His path took shape after Chávez, a young tank commander bent on remaking Venezuela, launched a failed coup in 1992 and was jailed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

“Why are we so bent on keeping students from getting an education and giving back?”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2025

The few who came seemed as closed and secretive as the freezing grayness of the weather, bent on some narrow business of their own.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson