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

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

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

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

A man utterly devoted to his people, but at the same time he was bent on reconciliation between the races in America.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey