Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bend

/bɛnd/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.13 in modern English

Syllables
bend
IPA
/bɛnd/
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.

Transitive verb

verb

To become curved.

Intransitive verb

verb

To cause to change direction.

Transitive verb

verb

To change direction.

Intransitive verb

verb

To be inclined; to direct itself.

Intransitive verb

verb

To stoop.

Intransitive verb

verb

To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.

Intransitive verb

verb

To force to submit.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *bindaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *bandijaną Proto-West Germanic *bandijan Old English bendan Middle English benden English bend From Middle English benden, from Old English bendan (“to bind or bend (a bow), fetter, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bandijan, from Proto-Germanic *bandijaną (“to bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, tie”). Cognate with Middle High German benden (“to fetter”), Danish bænde (“to bend”), Norwegian bende (“to bend”), Faroese benda (“to bend, inflect”), Icelandic benda (“to bend”). Related to bind, band, bond.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *bʰendʰ-, benden, bendan, *bandijan, *bandijaną

Usage

Inflected Forms

bends (present, singular) bending (participle, present) bent (participle, past) bent (past) bended (archaic, participle) bended (archaic, past) bends (plural)

Derived Forms

backbend bendability bendable bender databend debend disbend genderbend inbend overbend prebend racebend

Phrases

bend down bend it like Beckham bend one off bend one's elbow bend the elbow bend out of shape bend over bend over backwards

Frequently Paired Words

bent bendlet cost garter riband baton scrape

Synonyms

flex bend bow courb curb curl curve crook incurvate

Antonyms

straighten rectify unbend uncoil uncurl unfold unroll

Rhymes With

end high-end friend send dead-end spend recommend tend attend trend defend extend

Questions

How do you pronounce bend?
The recorded pronunciation is /bɛnd/.
What does bend mean?
To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.
Where does bend come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce bend

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “bend”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/bɛnd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “bend”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “bend” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.