curve 1 of 2

noun

Definition of curvenext
as in curvature
something that curves or is curved the bold curve of the racing yacht's hull

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

curve

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to arc
to turn away from a straight line or course after following a straight path most of the way down the mountain, the ski trail abruptly curves to the right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bend
to cause to turn away from a straight line curved the wood to make a bow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 curve
Noun
That is the kind of growth curve that reshapes buyer habits, pricing strategy and the way retailers design product pages. — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 By his reckoning, lithium-ion technology is at best 20% of the way through its maturity curve, maybe 10% by conservative estimates. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
The space seamlessly flows into a dining area and a custom kitchen outfitted with curving cabinetry, stainless steel shelving, Caesarstone countertops, a contoured island, and a breakfast nook. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026 Designed by Behar Font & Partners, the building’s curving silhouette and glass façade evoke the slender form of a tulip blossom. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curve
  1. curvature
  2. arc
  3. bend
  4. angle
  5. round
  6. arch
  7. turn
  8. trend
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
Verb
  • Why can’t the body content itself with stillness, leavened, perhaps, by the fluttering of fingers over a keyboard or the occasional arcing turn of a page?
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Édier Ocampo played an arcing entry pass from the right side to Larraz, whose header at the front post was parried by diving goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of arc
Verb
  • The team plans to investigate three-dimensional structures that could support more complex movements, including bending, twisting, and shearing.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Dark matter also seems to warp space itself, bending light around objects in a process known as gravitational lensing.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of bend
Noun
  • The bat might have gone higher than the 25-degree launch angle on his homer.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Brunson beats defenders with skill and not size, relying on footwork, fakes and spins that create angles to get his shot off against taller defenders.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of angle
Verb
  • Halpin watched the ball clear the wall in right-center then launched his bat over his head and into the sky before rounding the bases.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Brewers third baseman David Hamilton rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the ninth inning.
    — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of round
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
Noun
  • Air traffic control approved the descent, and the plane began a right descending turn that increased in rate until communications and tracking data were lost.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Riding high after their 2024 romp, in which Republicans won control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, there was optimism in the GOP that the rightward turn among Hispanic voters could reflect a permanent realignment.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of turn
Verb
  • Other companies soon took note of the trending Tempur-Pedic and then began to introduce their own foam mattresses.
    — Jaklin Romine Oct. 15, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Temperatures continue to trend cooler and are now expected to reach only the lower to mid-50s, forecasters said.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of trend

Browse Nearby Words

curvatures
curve
curved
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on curve

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curve

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All