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

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

He survived waves of social change in Iran and multiple American administrations bent on undermining his rule.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 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

We are left now with two parties who seem bent on nothing short of mutually assured professional destruction, and if that's their goal, Baldoni and Lively are doing great.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2025

On everyone’s lips was the news that Norway’s Prince Fortinbras was marching toward Denmark, bent on revenging his father’s defeat.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein