bent

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: unenclosed grassland
2
botany
a(1)
: a reedy grass (see grass entry 1 sense 2)
(2)
: a stalk of stiff coarse grass

bent

2 of 3

adjective

1
: changed by bending out of an originally straight or even condition
bent twigs
standing with knees slightly bent
2
: strongly inclined : determined
usually used with on
was bent on going
3
slang
a
: different from the normal or usual
… she was so bent that she's probably a woman who ought to be locked up somewhere …Robert Redford
b
chiefly British : dishonest, corrupt
a bent cop
c
chiefly US : intoxicated, drunk
Like to get bent? This hangover beater will help you get back on track.Vibe

bent

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
a
: a strong inclination or interest : bias
the organization's religious bent
b
: a special inclination or capacity : talent
students with a scientific bent
2
: capacity of endurance
They fool me to the top of my bent.Shakespeare
3
engineering : a transverse framework (as in a bridge) to carry lateral as well as vertical loads
Phrases
bent out of shape
: extremely upset or angry
get bent
slang
used as an angry or contemptuous way of dismissing someone's statement, suggestion, etc.
I try to call him the next morning to apologize, but he tells me to get bent.Chuck Klosterman
Choose the Right Synonym for bent

gift, faculty, aptitude, bent, talent, genius, knack mean a special ability for doing something.

gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

Examples of bent in a Sentence

Adjective With your knees slightly bent, bend forward and touch your toes. the drug dealer knew which of the cops were bent
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Young men dabbling in revolutionary politics and a photographer with a bent for blackmail add complexity to the plot, as do a pair of foxes who masquerade as attractive gentlemen. Alida Becker, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 With an openly progressive bent, this show with a Homer Simpsonesque title takes on topical issues from a factual-if-spun standpoint and includes interviews conducted by Jason Bane of ColoradoPols.com and Ian Silverii (a former Denver Post guest columnist). John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2024 But for a military bent on gutting P.T.I., Mr. Sharif was seen as perhaps the only politician who could counter Mr. Khan’s popular appeal. Zia Ur-Rehman Saiyna Bashir, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2024 Butler came out with an aggressive bent, finishing the first quarter with nine points, five rebounds and two assists. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024 House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, who suffered through three losing speaker votes on the House floor, was too much of a rabble-rouser for Republicans with an institutionalist bent. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 25 Oct. 2023 Yet the charismatic language of faith that Truth spoke gained her entree to talk to white Americans with religious social justice bents. Cynthia Greenlee, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 Others said the criticism of mainstream coverage was largely coming from people who explicitly wanted their sports delivered with a political bent. Kellen Browning, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024 Her embrace of innovative style recalls that of another European actor with a bent for creative couture, Tilda Swinton. Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2024
Adjective
The opening minutes linger on an ominous shot of Joy’s bicycle abandoned in the middle of the road, front wheel bent and blood smeared over its pedals. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 How far should a democracy go in restricting a party that many believe is bent on undermining it? Erika Solomon, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Yet Judas Priest have remained hell bent for leather and, undeterred, made another album. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 Unlike the many swords Sanada has wielded, rules can always be bent. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 Another person told them to look at the traffic barrier on the right side of the drive-thru entrance, which had been bent forward. Brooke Baitinger, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 This is true even or especially when, as in this year, both parties seem bent on nominating candidates with glaring and arguably disqualifying defects. Michael Barone, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2024 Repeat Toe taps: Lay back with arms by sides, legs bent at 90 degrees, and feet lifted in the air so shins are parallel to the floor. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 29 Jan. 2024 Other videos showed displaced trampolines, bent signs, and debris littering streets. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, grassy place, bent grass, from Old English beonot-; akin to Old High German binuz rush

Adjective

Middle English, from past participle of benden to bend

Noun (2)

irregular from bend entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bent was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bent

Cite this Entry

“Bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bent

1 of 3 noun

bent

2 of 3 adjective
1
: changed by bending : crooked
a bent pin
2
: strongly favorable to : quite determined
doctors bent on finding a cure

bent

3 of 3 noun
1
: a strong natural liking
2
: a special inclination or capacity : talent
Etymology

Noun

Middle English bent "grassy place, bent grass"

Adjective

Middle English bent "crooked," from benden "to bend"

Noun

from bend "to turn in a certain direction"

More from Merriam-Webster on bent

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