bend

¹

[ bend ]

verb (used with object)

, bent or (Archaic) bend·ed; bend·ing.

1. 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:

   to bend an iron rod into a hoop.

   Synonyms: bow, flex, crook, curve

2. to direct or turn in a particular direction:

   to bend one's energies to the task.

3. to cause to submit or yield:

   to bend someone to one's will.

   Synonyms: sway, persuade, compel, shape, mold, influence

4. to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances:

   to bend the rules.

5. to incline mentally (usually followed by to or toward ):

   bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.

6. to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting.
7. Nautical. to fasten.
8. Archaic. to strain or brace tensely (often followed by up ).

verb (used without object)

, bent or (Archaic) bend·ed; bend·ing.

1. to become curved, crooked, or bent:

   a bow that bends easily.

2. to assume a bent posture; stoop (often followed by over ):

   to bend as one walks;

   to bend over and pick up something.

3. to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed:

   The road bent toward the south.

4. to yield or submit; give in.
5. to bow in submission or reverence:

   bending to one's monarch.

6. to direct one's energies:

   We bent to our work as the bell sounded.

noun

1. the act of bending.
2. something that bends; curve; crook:

   a bend in the road;

   a bend in the curtain rod.

3. Nautical. any of various loops or knots for joining the ends of two ropes or the like, or for joining the end of a rope or the like to some other object.
4. bends, Nautical.
   1. thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
   2. the wales of a vessel.
5. the bends, aeroembolism ( def 2 ).

bend

²

[ bend ]

noun

1. Heraldry.
   1. a diagonal band extending from the dexter chief of an escutcheon to the sinister base. Compare bend sinister.
   2. in bend, (of a charge) set diagonally or in a diagonal row.
2. Tanning. half of a trimmed butt or hide.

Bend

³

[ bend ]

noun

1. a city in central Oregon.

bend

¹

/ bɛnd /

noun

1. heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield

bend

²

/ bɛnd /

verb

1. to form or cause to form a curve, as by pushing or pulling
2. to turn or cause to turn from a particular direction

   the road bends left past the church

3. intr; often foll by down, etc to incline the body; stoop; bow
4. to submit or cause to submit

   to bend before superior force

5. tr to turn or direct (one's eyes, steps, attention, etc)
6. tr to concentrate (the mind); apply oneself closely
7. tr nautical to attach or fasten, as a sail to a boom or a line to a cleat
8. bend over backwards informal.
   to make a special effort, esp in order to please

   he bends over backwards to accommodate his customers

9. bend someone's ear informal.
   to speak at length to an unwilling listener, esp to voice one's troubles
10. bend the rules informal.
    to ignore rules or change them to suit one's own convenience

noun

1. a curved part, as in a road or river
2. nautical a knot or eye in a line for joining it to another or to an object
3. the act or state of bending
4. round the bend slang.
   mad; crazy; eccentric

Derived Forms

• ˈbendable, adjective

Other Words From

• benda·ble adjective
• non·bending adjective
• re·benda·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bend¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb benden, binde, Old English bendan “to bind, bend (a bow)”; cognate with Middle High German benden, Old Norse benda; akin to Old Norse band “band, cord, confederacy”; band ³

Origin of bend²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English adjective bende; blend of Old English bend “band, fetter” and Middle French bende ( Medieval Latin benda, binda ); band ², band ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of bend¹

Old English bend band ²; see bend ¹

Origin of bend²

Old English bendan ; related to Old Norse benda , Middle High German benden ; see bind , band ³

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. around / round the bend, Slang. insane; crazy:

   These interruptions will send me round the bend!

2. bend / lean / fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort:

   They bent over backward to make sure their guests were comfortable.

More idioms and phrases containing bend

• around the bend
• crook (bend) one's elbow
• on bended knee

Synonym Study

Bend, bow, stoop imply taking a bent posture. Bend and bow are used of the head and upper body; stoop is used of the body only.

Example Sentences

One of the greatest magic tricks I ever saw unfolded when Johnny Carson invited the illusionist Uri Geller on “The Tonight Show” to bend a spoon with his mind.

From New York Times

However, after bending over to pick up his cap, he collapsed and never regained consciousness.

From BBC

“Lessons” include singing scales with one’s hands in the air, dropping on the high note, or bending forward and being pulled up by the ascension of notes.

From Los Angeles Times

Whether senators will bend to this is unclear.

From Science Magazine

And a Republican Congress has already proved compliant to Mr. Trump’s norm bending.

From New York Times

Related Words

• bow
• buckle
• crouch
• curl
• flex
• incline
• lean
• stoop
• tilt
• twist
• veer

More About Bend

What is a basic definition of bend?

Bend means to make something change its shape from straight to curved or to make someone submit. A bend is a curve or a turn. The word bend has several other senses as a verb and a noun.

If you bend something that is straight, you are forcing it into a curve or an angle. If you bend a drinking straw, for example, you are using your hands to force it to curve or to slant. If you bend something too far, it may snap or break. Something or someone that bends is a bender.

• Real-life examples: A baker needs to bend dough to make a pretzel. Yoga includes a lot of bending forward and backward.
• Used in a sentence: Jonah’s arms were so sore after lifting weights that he could barely bend his arms.

Bend can also be used to mean to become curved or angled. This sense is often followed by the word over or down when referring to a person bending to stoop down. The adjective bendy describes something as bending easily or having a tendency to bend.

• Used in a sentence: I bent over and picked up all of the trash on the ground.

A bend is a curve or change in direction.

• Used in a sentence: When driving, you need to be careful of sudden bends in the road.

Bend can also mean to make someone submit or yield or to submit to someone else.

• Used in a sentence: Charlemagne forced the conquered people to bend to his will.

Armando bent to her demands because he had no other choice.

Where does bend come from?

The first records of bend come from before 1000. It ultimately comes from the Old English verb bendan, meaning “to bind” or “to bend (a bow).” Bend is related to the word band.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to bend?

• bender (noun)
• bendy (adjective)
• bendable (adjective)
• nonbending (adjective)
• rebendable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for bend?

• bow
• curl
• twist
• incline
• curve

What are some words that share a root or word element with bend? 

• bend over backwards
• bend someone’s ear
• bend one’s elbow
• on bended knee

What are some words that often get used in discussing bend?

• arc
• curve
• slant
• angle

How is bend used in real life?

Bend is a common word used to mean to make something curved or to become curved.

It’s been 40 days since surgery and I can bend my leg 75 degrees!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽

— Lionel Torres (@Torreslionel3) November 6, 2018

I will spend a very long time redirecting my Roomba with my feet before I'll bend over to pick it up.

— amanda (@MandiJStewart) February 5, 2021

I bent my iPhone in my back pocket… and I kinda like it! 😂 It has a custom curved screen now 😎📱

— Ali-A (@OMGitsAliA) November 16, 2016

Try using bend!

Is bend used correctly in the following sentence?

I had to bend the envelope a little bit to get it to fit inside the mailbox.