bend 1 of 2

Definition of bendnext
1
2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6

bend

2 of 2

noun

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
When deer bend down to eat the bait, paint rollers cover their heads in permethrin. Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 As if the arc of history just naturally bends towards justice without aggrieved people putting pressure on it. Sarah Schulman, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
Noun
As Rice whips the ball in with bend and power, keep an eye on England’s blockers in the clip below. Thom Harris, New York Times, 23 June 2026 Few officials have studied more carefully how the global energy system bends and buckles under pressure. Clay Chandler, semafor.com, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
  • The ceiling is arched and lined with skylights to allow for light in walkway.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2026
  • The branches arch as the plant ages.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Since Israel’s founding, members of the community who devoted themselves to Torah studies have been exempt from the nation’s compulsory military service.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 June 2026
  • The album’s first half is all head-over-heels, dreamily devoted love songs, whimsical head rushes turned into music that recalls Lorde, the Cure, and Annie Ernaux.
    Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • That's significant because the nonprofit aims to reduce the stigma of mental health disorders, especially among Asian American families.
    Sharon Chin, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • Taiwan’s ongoing military drills are aimed at boosting the island’s combat readiness in case of a Chinese military attack.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Prep with a lightweight blowout cream and use a large round brush to create lift at the roots while keeping the ends smooth and softly curved.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 25 June 2026
  • The tracks where the train derailed are on a curving section of a bridge over the Grand Calumet River.
    Darius Johnson, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • This disciplined recovery is vital in areas such as forecasting, where flawed workflows can distort decisions far beyond finance.
    Rajesh Gharpure, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • The biggest concern are realistic-looking visuals that subtly distort scientific details while remaining believable enough to pass initial review.
    Nan Li, The Conversation, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • But success in this area would give Meta a robust revenue stream that isn’t attached to its bread-and-butter advertising business, which drives all but 2% of the company’s total revenue.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Karger’s original screenplay Fantasy Camp sold in a competitive bidding situation to STX and had Jennifer Garner attached to star.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The greater the mass of the object, the more extreme the curvature and thus the greater the gravitational influence of that object.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 June 2026
  • This saves you a massive 42% on an elite display packing QHD resolution, blistering refresh rates and response times, and an immersive 1000R panel curvature.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The election of Raman and Roy would also underscore the leftward tilt of Los Angeles, which has four City Council members, including Raman, who are DSA members — two of whom were reelected in the primary.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026
  • For instance, Apollo 14 experienced a 7-degree tilt on landing, and Apollo 15 had an 11-degree tilt on touchdown.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 22 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on bend

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster