bend
bend — verb
1. to become curved or slant to one side, or to force something into that shape or
to become curved or slant to one side, or to force something into that shape or path
Nina bent the wire into a small heart for the card.
bend something into a shape
The road bends left after the bridge by the rice fields.
intransitive: bend + direction
Strong wind bent the young tree toward the garden wall.
At the corner, the river bends around a line of rocks.
bend around something
- bend the wire
- bend the branch
- bend left
- bend around the corner
- straighten
make or become straight again
Grammar Patterns
bend something into a shape
bend + direction
bend around something
Usage Note
Often takes a physical object, route, or line as its subject or object. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about moving your own body or a body part rather than changing the shape or course of another thing.
Common Mistakes
2. to lower, fold, or lean your body, or a joint such as an arm or knee, away from
to lower, fold, or lean your body, or a joint such as an arm or knee, away from a straight position
Luca bent his knees before jumping off the low wall.
bend + body part
Grandma bent down to pick up the fallen orange.
bend down + to-infinitive
During yoga, Mei bent forward and touched her shins.
bend forward
To hear the child, Officer Lin bent closer to the window.
- bend your knees
- bend down
- bend forward
- bend closer
- straighten
return the body or joint to a straight position
- stand upright
keep the body fully straight
Grammar Patterns
bend your knees
bend down
bend forward
Usage Note
Common with body-part objects such as knees, elbows, and back, or with particles and adverbs like down and forward. Distinguish from sense 1, where a road, tree, or other thing changes shape or direction.
Common Mistakes
3. used in on bended knee for someone on one knee or asking in a very respectful wa
used in on bended knee for someone on one knee or asking in a very respectful way
In the play, the prince waited on bended knee with a ring.
fixed phrase: on bended knee
After the argument, Jason came on bended knee to apologize.
The old photo shows Grandpa on bended knee in the garden.
Reporters joked that the mayor was on bended knee again.
figurative use: humble pleading
- on bended knee
- fall on bended knee
- come on bended knee
Grammar Patterns
on bended knee
on bended knees
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the set phrase on bended knee or on bended knees. It is often used literally for kneeling, but it can also sound figurative or slightly dramatic when someone is begging for help or forgiveness.
Common Mistakes
4. to treat a rule less strictly because the case seems special or harmless
to treat a rule less strictly because the case seems special or harmless
The coach bent the rules so injured players could rest.
bend the rules
At home, Dad bends the rules on birthdays and lets us stay up.
The teacher would not bend the rule for late homework.
bend a rule for somebody
Managers sometimes bend company rules during family emergencies.
- bend the rules
- bend a rule
- bend company policy
- bend the rules for somebody
- relax
more formal and often used for making rules less strict in general
- make an exception
states the result directly rather than using an idiom
- stretch
can suggest going a little farther than is fully proper
Grammar Patterns
bend the rules
bend a rule for somebody
Usage Note
Usually takes rule or rules as the object, often with for + person or because of a situation. It suggests a small or practical exception, not a complete refusal to follow the law.
Common Mistakes
bend to
phrasal verbTo change your behavior or opinion because of pressure from someone or something.
The manager finally bent to the workers' demands.
She refused to bend to her parents' wishes about her career.
To talk to someone for a long time, usually about a personal problem.
Maya bent my ear about her noisy neighbors for an hour.
Did Diego bend your ear again about his car troubles?
To focus all your thoughts or energy on a particular task.
Sara bent her mind to solving the math problem.
The team bent their efforts to finishing the project on time.
To try very hard to help someone or be fair.
The teacher bent over backwards to help Brian pass the exam.
Aiden leaned over backwards to make sure everyone felt welcome.
To allow something that is not usually permitted, often to help someone.
The coach bent the rules to let the injured player compete.
Can you stretch the rules and accept my late application?
bend the truth
idiomTo say something that is not completely true, but not a full lie.
Min bent the truth when she said she loved the gift.
He bent the truth about his age to get the job.
on bended knee(s)
idiomIn a position of kneeling, showing great respect or desperation when asking for something.
He begged on bended knee for her forgiveness.
The knight knelt on bended knee before the queen.
bend — noun
1. a place where a road, river, or other long thing turns in a curve
a place where a road, river, or other long thing turns in a curve
The bus slowed down at the sharp bend near the temple.
a sharp bend
Children were fishing by the river bend behind the school.
river bend
A warning sign stood before the bend in the mountain road.
a bend in the road
Around the next bend, we saw the lighthouse at last.
around the bend
- sharp bend
- river bend
- bend in the road
- next bend
- straight
a part with no turn
Grammar Patterns
a sharp bend
a bend in the road
around the bend
Usage Note
Common with roads, rivers, and tracks, especially after sharp, river, and in. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which is about the curved flight of a football rather than a turning part of a road or river.
Common Mistakes
2. the sideways curve a football gets because of how it is kicked
the sideways curve a football gets because of how it is kicked
From the corner kick, Elena put plenty of bend on the ball.
put bend on the ball
The free kick had so much bend that the keeper missed it.
so much bend
Fans cheered when the shot had bend and reached the far post.
Coach Sato told Noah to add more bend to his cross.
add bend to a kick
- put bend on the ball
- plenty of bend
- add more bend
- bend on a free kick
- straight shot
a kick that travels without curving much
Grammar Patterns
put bend on the ball
add bend to a kick
Usage Note
Mainly used in football talk, especially with put, get, have, or add. The subject is usually a kick, shot, or cross, not the player alone.
Common Mistakes
3. a dangerous illness divers can get if they rise too fast after a deep dive
a dangerous illness divers can get if they rise too fast after a deep dive
After the dive, Ken was checked for the bends at once.
the bends
The captain knew one fast rise could cause the bends.
Divers learn safety stops to avoid the bends.
avoid the bends
At the clinic, a doctor treated Mara for the bends.
- get the bends
- avoid the bends
- treated for the bends
- cause the bends
- decompression sickness
the technical medical term
- caisson disease
an older formal term
Grammar Patterns
the bends
get the bends
Usage Note
Usually appears as the bends rather than a singular noun. It is common in diving contexts, while decompression sickness is the more technical medical term.
Common Mistakes
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
For verb sense 1, bend is the broad everyday word for making something stop being straight or for changing direction. Curve often points to a smoother, rounder line, so a road can curve gently, while bend also works for a sharper change. Twist is different because it suggests turning around itself, as with cloth, wire, or a lid. Flex is more technical or physical, and often means bending without damage, especially for joints, muscles, or materials. A branch can bend in the wind, a river bends around rocks, and a dancer flexes her ankle. If the movement creates a spiral shape rather than a simple curve, twist is the better choice.
Etymology
Bend goes back to Old English bendan, a verb connected with the idea of binding or pulling something out of a straight line. From that physical action, English developed the modern senses of curving an object, leaning the body, and changing direction. The noun grew from the same image of something that is no longer straight.