Bend
/bɛnd/
verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral
Idiom
Meanings
Questions
Definitions
2 meanings1
To curve or force something to curve.
/bɛnd/
verbneutralBeginner
General
To curve or cause to curve.
He bent the wire.
💡 Simply: To make something not straight.
More Examples
2
The road bends sharply to the left.
How It's Used
Everyday Life
"The wind bent the trees."
Engineering
"The metal was bent into shape."
2
A curve or a place where something curves.
/bɛnd/
nounneutralBeginner
General
A curve or turn.
There's a dangerous bend in the road ahead.
💡 Simply: A curve in a line or path.
More Examples
2
The river has many bends in its course.
How It's Used
Navigation
"The river took a sharp bend."
Tip:Think of a bend in a river.
Idioms & expressions
bend over backwards
To try very hard to help someone.
"She bent over backwards to make him happy."
Old English *bendan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch benden and German binden "to bind".
The word 'bend' has been used in a similar way for centuries, often relating to physical objects.
Memory tip
Imagine a bending willow tree.
Practice
benddbned
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written