bend
verb (used with object)
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.
were bending
-
past progressiveof bend.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Studio people were bending over backwards to make all these promises that would never happen in the past,” Lee said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
The Americans were bending but not breaking until Zimmerman took down Gareth Bale from behind with the Welshman’s back to the goal.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 22, 2022
She knew they were wrong and developed her own symptom tracker which helped her work out that her triggers were bending over, walking and talking, with a delayed impact in her lungs.
From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2021
Like Furukawa, they weren’t sure exactly what was causing the little girl to lose so much phosphate that her bones were bending.
From New York Times ● Dec. 2, 2021
It was not long before the tiny harvestmouse archers were bending their bows, sending small pointed shafts darting into the ditch.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
