wend

1 of 2

verb

ˈwend 

wended; wending; wends

intransitive verb

: to direct one's course : travel

transitive verb

: to proceed on (one's way) : direct

Wend

2 of 2

noun

ˈwend 

: a member of a Slavic people of eastern Germany

Examples of wend in a Sentence

Verb

We wended through the narrow streets.

We wended our way through the narrow streets.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Millions more people have applied for asylum and are allowed to remain in the country while their cases wend through immigration court — though very few asylum claims are ultimately granted. —Allison McCann, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025

In many countries, applicants can work, find housing, and put down roots while their cases wend their way through the system. —Amy Pope, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

The processional wends its way across town led by a pickup truck that drags an open trailer full of musicians strumming guitars and leading the crowd in song. —Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Dec. 2024

The model train display sprawls across some 1,200 square feet with 25 model trains wending their way through landscapes as diverse as the White House, the Indianapolis skyline and the Grand Canyon. —Perri Ormont Blumberg Fox News, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English wendan; akin to Old High German wenten to turn, Old English windan to twist — more at wind entry 3

Noun

German Wende, from Old High German Winida; akin to Old English Winedas, plural, Wends

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1786, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

wend

verb

ˈwend 

: to go one's way : proceed

wending their way home