bend
bend
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bend" is /bɛnd/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
bend: /b/, /ɛ/, /n/, /d/
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: bend
Plural: bends
Verb:
Base form: bend
Third-person singular present: bends
Present participle: bending
Past tense: bent
Past participle: bent
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A curve or an angle in a continuous line or surface, such as in a road, river, or pipe.
Synonyms: curve, turn, corner, twist, arc, crook
Antonyms: straight, line, directness
Definition 2: The act or process of curving or being curved.
Synonyms: flex, fold, crook, curvature, stoop
Antonyms: straighten, unbending, rigidity
Verb
Definition 1: To form a curve or angle in something straight; to make something not straight.
Synonyms: curve, fold, flex, crook, deform, contort, buckle
Antonyms: straighten, unbend, extend, stiffen
Definition 2: To move your body or part of your body downwards or forwards, often by curving at the waist or knees.
Synonyms: lean, stoop, crouch, bow, incline, hunch
Antonyms: stand, rise, straighten, erect
Definition 3: To cause to yield or submit, often by exerting influence or pressure.
Synonyms: conform, yield, submit, adjust, adapt, mold
Antonyms: resist, defy, oppose, refuse, insist
Examples of Use
Books:
"He paused at the bend in the road, the ancient trees casting long shadows." (From "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides, February 2019)
"She watched him bend to tie his shoelace, a habit he'd never broken." (From "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens, August 2018)
Newspapers:
"The river takes a sharp bend just before it reaches the old mill." (Based on reporting about local geography in The Daily Nation)
"The new legislation will hopefully bend the arc of history towards justice." (Quoted in an opinion piece in The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Engineers are working to bend light in new ways to create more efficient solar panels." (From an article on Phys.org)
"The company had to bend its rules to accommodate the unexpected demand." (Reported by Forbes.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film (Dialogue): "Don't bend the truth, just tell me what happened." (From a scene in the film Knives Out)
Music (Lyrics): "And the road ahead may bend, but our spirits will not break." (Lyrics from a song by a popular indie band)
Video Games (Gameplay Description): "Players can bend the elements to their will, creating powerful spells and defenses." (From a game review on IGN)
Television (Dialogue): "We'll have to bend over backward to get this done on time." (Heard in an episode of a popular sitcom)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you bend that wire for me so it fits?" (Common request in a workshop or DIY setting, ongoing)
"The politician refused to bend on the issue of tax reform." (Heard in a public debate or news discussion, ongoing)
"You need to bend your knees when you lift heavy objects." (Common advice given for proper lifting technique, ongoing)
10 Quotes Using Bend
"The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice." (Martin Luther King Jr., various speeches)
"Just bend with the wind. It's the best way to get through a storm." (From the film Forrest Gump, 1994)
"Truth is like a straight stick in water, it may seem to bend, but it does not." (Indian Proverb)
"You have to bend to the left, so you don't fall over to the right." (Author unknown)
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." (Robert F. Kennedy, though often adapted to "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go," implying a need to bend limits)
"It's no use crying over spilt milk. You just have to bend down and clean it up." (Common idiom)
"We must all bend to the greater will, or break." (From the TV series Game of Thrones, 2011-2019)
"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be." (Patanjali, often paraphrased to include the idea that the mind can bend reality)
"The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists." (Japanese Proverb)
"If you can't bend it, break it." (Common saying)
Etymology
The word "bend" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back thousands of years!
Imagine a very old language that was the ancestor of many European and Indian languages, called Proto-Indo-European. In this ancient language, there was a root word, something like *bhendh-, which meant "to bind" or "to tie."
From there, it evolved into Proto-Germanic, the ancestor of languages like English, German, and Norse. In Proto-Germanic, we find the word *bandijaną, which still carried the meaning of "to bind, fetter, or restrain." Interestingly, it also started to mean "to bend," likely because of the action of bending a bow in order to bind or string it.
When we get to Old English (the earliest form of English, spoken before 1150 AD), the word became bendan. At this point, its primary meaning was "to bend a bow," "to bring something into a curved state," or "to confine with a string, to fetter." So, the idea of tying something and the idea of making it curve were very closely linked.
Over time, during the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500 AD), the verb benden continued to develop. The sense of "to curve or make crooked" became more prominent, stemming from the action of bending a bow. By the late 14th century, it also started being used for things that become curved, like a tree branch bending in the wind. The figurative meaning of "to bow down" or "to be submissive" also emerged around this time.
So, the first known uses and meanings of "bend" were very much connected to the action of binding or tying something, particularly a bow, which naturally led to the idea of making something curved or crooked.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bend
Bend the rules: To allow an exception to a rule or custom; to act contrary to a rule.
Bend over backward: To make a great effort, especially to be helpful or accommodating.
Bend an ear: To talk to someone, often at length, or to listen intently to someone.
Bend one's will to: To force oneself to do something or comply with something.
Bend with the wind: To yield or adapt to circumstances rather than resisting them.
Bend the truth: To tell a lie or distort the facts, but not entirely.
On the bend: Used to describe something or someone that is near a curve in a road or path.
Bend the knee: To show submission or homage, often in a respectful or formal way.
Around the bend: Crazy; insane; also, nearing the end of a process or journey.
Bend of the elbow: The inner part of the arm where it bends.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bend from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
