verb (used with object),bent or (Archaic) bend·ed;bend·ing.
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.
to direct or turn in a particular direction: to bend one's energies to the task.
to cause to submit or yield: to bend someone to one's will.
to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances: to bend the rules.
to incline mentally (usually followed by to or toward): bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.
to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting.
Nautical. to fasten.
Archaic. to strain or brace tensely (often followed by up).
verb (used without object),bent or (Archaic) bend·ed;bend·ing.
to become curved, crooked, or bent: a bow that bends easily.
to assume a bent posture; stoop (often followed by over): to bend as one walks; to bend over and pick up something.
to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed: The road bent toward the south.
to yield or submit; give in.
to bow in submission or reverence: bending to one's monarch.
to direct one's energies: We bent to our work as the bell sounded.
noun
the act of bending.
something that bends; curve; crook: a bend in the road; a bend in the curtain rod.
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.
bends,Nautical.
thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
the wales of a vessel.
the bends,aeroembolism (def. 2).
Idioms for bend
around / round the bend, Slang. insane; crazy: These interruptions will send me round the bend!
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.
Origin of bend
1
before 1000; Middle English benden (v.) Old English bendan to bind, bend (a bow); cognate with Middle High German benden,Old Norse benda; akin to Old Norse band band. See band3
SYNONYMS FOR bend
1 curve, crook, flex, bow.
3 mold, subdue, influence.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR bend ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for bend
10. 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.
The largest, just around the bend from Cymric 1Y, started in 2003.
Oil Companies Are Profiting From Illegal Spills. And California Lets Them.|by Janet Wilson, The Desert Sun, and Lylla Younes, ProPublica|September 18, 2020|ProPublica
It covers your backside when you need to pee in the desert—every female hiker knows what it’s like to try to time a bathroom break before someone rounds the bend—and it protects you from the sun while your swimsuit dries out.
In Praise of the Adventure Dress|Alison Van Houten|August 22, 2020|Outside Online
And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Clickbait title notwithstanding, Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After acknowledging that there has been a “bend in the curve” and a reason to hope, he warned against inaction.
Millions Promised for Ebola Not Adding Up|Abby Haglage|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The city was described by V.S. Naipaul in his 1979 novel A Bend in the River as “a place where the future has come and gone.”
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“This is the key way to bend the curve,” Powell told The Daily Beast of the mission abroad in a September interview.
Ron Klain Will Be the Best Ebola Czar Yet|Tim Mak, Abby Haglage|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were just turning a bend of the road, when Paul chanced to look backward.
Paul Prescott's Charge|Horatio Alger
A young girl came around a bend, leading a small pig, and the child darted toward her.
Pappina, the Little Wanderer|Katherine Wallace Davis
About half an hour from the house, where the road made a bend towards Krantz Hoek.
Harley Greenoak's Charge|Bertram Mitford
They had covered about two miles when they came to a bend in the road, and there Andy called a halt.
The Rover Boys in the Land of Luck|Edward Stratemeyer
They swung around a bend in the trail and came upon the ashes of a recent campfire.
Slim Evans and his Horse Lightning|Graham M. Dean
British Dictionary definitions for bend (1 of 2)
bend1
/ (bɛnd) /
verbbends, bendingorbent
to form or cause to form a curve, as by pushing or pulling
to turn or cause to turn from a particular directionthe road bends left past the church
(intr; often foll by down , etc)to incline the body; stoop; bow
to submit or cause to submitto bend before superior force
(tr)to turn or direct (one's eyes, steps, attention, etc)
(tr)to concentrate (the mind); apply oneself closely
(tr)nauticalto attach or fasten, as a sail to a boom or a line to a cleat
bend over backwardsinformalto make a special effort, esp in order to pleasehe bends over backwards to accommodate his customers
bend someone's earinformalto speak at length to an unwilling listener, esp to voice one's troubles
bend the rulesinformalto ignore rules or change them to suit one's own convenience
noun
a curved part, as in a road or river
nauticala knot or eye in a line for joining it to another or to an object
the act or state of bending
round the bendBritishslangmad; crazy; eccentric
See also bends
Derived forms of bend
bendable, adjective
Word Origin for bend
Old English bendan; related to Old Norse benda, Middle High German benden; see bind, band ³
British Dictionary definitions for bend (2 of 2)
bend2
/ (bɛnd) /
noun
heraldryan ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield