bend 1 of 2

verb

ˈbend How to pronounce bend (audio)
Definition of bendnext
1
as in to arch
to cause to turn away from a straight line she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer

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2
as in to devote
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention bent herself to the task for the rest of the day

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3
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film

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4
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the stream bends slightly to the east

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5
as in to distort
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of attorneys bending the facts to put their client in the most favorable light

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6
as in to attach
to cause (something) to hold to another bend a leash to the dog's collar

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bend

2 of 2

noun

1
as in curvature
something that curves or is curved it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful

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2
as in tilt
the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle did knee bends for exercise

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bend
Verb
Lots of people can bend one of the four elements, of course, and are therefore known as Earthbenders, Firebenders, Waterbenders, etc. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026 When the Americans failed to pressure Guijarro some 25 yards out, the Spanish captain ripped a bending effort that nestled in goalkeeper Claudia Dickey’s netting. — Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
Day and night aren't exactly 12 hours long on the day of the equinox because the Earth's atmosphere refracts, or bends, light in an optical illusion that brings more daylight than there really is. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 But then, somewhere past the point where impatience would have quit, the curve bends, and the results stop looking modest at all. — Richard Ceffalio, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
  1. arch
  2. devote
  3. aim
  4. curve
  5. distort
  6. attach
  7. curvature
  8. tilt
Verb
  • But try to go back the other way, the doorway is rectangular rather than arched.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • There is an intentional yawning gap in the floor leading to the basement, and nearly half the building is an open void crisscrossed by arching beams.
    — Tim Hornyak, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of arch
Verb
  • The power of people All of this knowledge has accumulated because people value birds and have devoted enormous time and effort to understanding them.
    — Amy L. Scarpignato, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond his commercial success, Appignani devoted his later years to civic engagement, philanthropy and promoting humanistic values.
    — Sergio R. Bustos, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of devote
Verb
  • Russia's heavy bombardment of the power grid ahead of winter has been an annual feature of the war, aimed at wearing down Ukraine's appetite for the fight by denying civilians heat and running water.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Marshall has consistently voted against Senate War Powers Resolutions aimed at halting or restricting military operations in Iran.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Animators studied ostriches before feeding their digital movement curves into a six-axis mechanical rig carrying the performers.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The tangle of stubby points stood out like overgrown thumbs, and the down-curving prongs on either side of his head were at least a foot long.
    — Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of curve
Verb
  • While there are men who have been affected — George Brett Olson has been one vocal example — the majority affected seem to be women, whose likenesses are often exaggerated or distorted for the purposes of sexualization.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The carbon molecules then distort the star’s light so much that almost all of it is squeezed into wavelengths beyond 600 nanometres.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • The team also evaluated methods for attaching sensors to storage casks, with the aim of developing installations capable of remaining in place for years under high-temperature and high-radiation conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • However, the same data came with a clear warning attached for Brussels.
    — Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of attach
Noun
  • Individual fibers can detect curvature along a line, but reconstructing an entire surface presents a greater challenge.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Mike recalled that the effects of the disease were noticeable around the time of his 2011 wedding to Zara, and said his father’s physical decline had included curvature of the spine and subsequent medical problems.
    — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of curvature
Noun
  • Maximalism made its comeback, as embellishments, graphic tees and structured bras dominated many of the buzziest offerings, pushing past seasons’ minimalist tilt to the wayside.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The camera handles sight, and the phone's inertial measurement unit (IMU), a chip that senses tilt and motion, works like an inner ear for balance.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of tilt

Phrases Containing bend

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benchmarks
bend
bendable
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Cite this Entry

“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bend

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