bent Meaning & Definition
What Does Bent Mean?
As an adjective, bent means changed by bending out of an originally straight or even condition. It can also mean strongly inclined. As a noun, it means a strong inclination or interest. As a noun, it means unenclosed grassland.
Bent: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective, noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbent/ |
| Synonyms | set, crooked and inclined |
| Antonyms | aboveboard, honest and straight |
| Plural | bents |
| Comparative / superlative | benter, bentest |
Bent Definition (Adjective)
- changed by bending out of an originally straight or even condition
bent twigs / standing with knees slightly bent
- strongly inclined : determined
- different from the normal or usual
… she was so bent that she's probably a woman who ought to be locked up somewhere …
- dishonest, corrupt
a bent cop
- intoxicated:1, drunk
Like to get bent? This hangover beater will help you get back on track.
Bent as a Noun
- a strong inclination or interest : bias
the organization's religious bent
- a special inclination or capacity : talent
students with a scientific bent
- capacity of endurance
They fool me to the top of my bent.
- a transverse framework (as in a bridge) to carry lateral as well as vertical loads
Noun
- unenclosed grassland
- a reedy grass see grass:1
- a stalk of stiff coarse grass
- bent grass
Bent as a Verb
- to constrain or strain to tension by curving
bend a bow
- to turn or force from straight or even to curved or angular
bend a pipe
- to force from a proper shape
Her bicycle's back wheel got bent in the crash.
- to force back to an original straight or even condition
bend the wire flat
- fasten
bend a sail to its yard
- to cause to turn from a straight course : deflect
bend a ray of light with a mirror
- to guide or turn toward : direct
… bends his rapid steps in the direction of the headquarters …
- incline, dispose
Bending their minds to the Buddhist concept of eternity …
- to adapt to one's purpose : distort
bend the rules
- to direct strenuously or with interest : apply
bent himself to the task
- to make submissive : subdue
refusing to be bent
- to curve out of a straight line or position
The road bends to the left. / tree limbs bending under the weight of the snow / bent down to pick up a piece of paper / bending double with pain
- to incline the body in token of submission
bend to the queen
- to apply oneself vigorously
bending to their work
- incline, tend
She bends to the left politically.
- compromise
refusing to bend under pressure to change / bending to the will of wealthy supporters
Noun
- any of a genus (Agrostis) of grasses including important chiefly perennial and rhizomatous pasture and lawn grasses with fine velvety or wiry herbage
Synonyms of Bent
Antonyms of Bent
Bent in a Sentence
He was bent on going to Texas, but not even he could say why.
They were bent on mischief.
She was bent about "certain kinds of people" having civil rights; she wanted to roll those back.
That shot was so bent it left the pitch.
Man, I am so bent right now!
He had a natural bent for painting.
the top of one's bent
His mind was of a technical bent.
the bent of a bow
Don’t bend your knees.
Look at the trees bending in the wind.
The road bends to the right
He bent down to pick up the pieces.
They bent me to their will.
I am bending to my desire to eat junk food.
He bent the company's resources to gaining market share.
He bent to the goal of gaining market share.
Bend the sail to the yard.
You should bend the G slightly sharp in the next measure.
bent twigs
standing with knees slightly bent
… she was so bent that she's probably a woman who ought to be locked up somewhere …
a bent cop
Like to get bent? This hangover beater will help you get back on track.
the organization's religious bent
students with a scientific bent
They fool me to the top of my bent.
bend a bow
bend a pipe
Her bicycle's back wheel got bent in the crash.
bend the wire flat
bend a sail to its yard
bend a ray of light with a mirror
… bends his rapid steps in the direction of the headquarters …
Bending their minds to the Buddhist concept of eternity …
bend the rules
bent himself to the task
refusing to be bent
The road bends to the left.
tree limbs bending under the weight of the snow
bent down to pick up a piece of paper
bending double with pain
bend to the queen
bending to their work
She bends to the left politically.
refusing to bend under pressure to change
bending to the will of wealthy supporters
the drug dealer knew which of the cops were bent
the perfect gift for a person of a literary bent
having a decided bent for languages, he picked up Italian in no time
she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer
bent herself to the task for the rest of the day
bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film
the stream bends slightly to the east
attorneys bending the facts to put their client in the most favorable light
bend a leash to the dog's collar
a bride-to-be bent on having the perfect wedding
bent twigs / standing with knees slightly bent
The road bends to the left. / tree limbs bending under the weight of the snow / bent down to pick up a piece of paper / bending double with pain
refusing to bend under pressure to change / bending to the will of wealthy supporters
Word Forms & Grammar
bent
bent on
getting bent
got bent
had gotten bent
bents
bend·ing
bend·able adjective
bend
bendable
bending
bends
bent grass
bent grasses
bend one's ear
bend over backward
bend over backwards
bent (on or upon)
bent upon
bent (comparative benter or more bent, superlative bentest or most bent)
bent (plural bents)
bent (countable and uncountable, plural bents)
Words That Rhyme With Bent
Origin of Bent
Origin 1: Middle English, from past participle of benden to bend
Origin 2: irregular from bend:1
Origin 3: Middle English, grassy place, bent grass, from Old English beonot-; akin to Old High German binuz rush
Origin 4: Middle English, from Old English bendan; akin to Old English bend fetter band
Origin 5: From Middle English bent-, preterite stem (as in bente, benten, etc.), and Middle English bent, ibent, ybent, past participle forms of Middle English benden (“to bend”). Equivalent to bend + -t.
Origin 6: From Middle English bent, benet, from Old English *beonot (attested only in place-names and personal names), from Proto-West Germanic *binut (“reed, rush”), of uncertain origin.
First Known Use
14th century
1587
before 12th centuryt
1677
Common Questions About Bent
Is bent an adjective or a noun?
Bent is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun and a verb.
What is another word for bent?
Close synonyms of bent are set, crooked and inclined. See the full list of bent synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of bent?
The opposite of bent can be expressed with words like aboveboard, honest, straight and conscientious.
What is the plural of bent?
The plural of bent is bents.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of bent?
The comparative form is benter and the superlative form is bentest.