bent

1 of 3

adjective

ˈbent 

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

2 of 3

noun (1)

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

bent

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: unenclosed grassland

2

botany

a(1)

: a reedy grass (see grass entry 1 sense 2)

(2)

: a stalk of stiff coarse grass

b

: bent grass

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• crooked
• deceptive
• dishonest
• double-dealing
• duplicitous
• fast
• fraudulent
• guileful
• rogue
• shady
• sharp
• shifty
• underhand
• underhanded

Noun (2)

• affection
• affinity
• aptitude
• bias
• bone
• devices
• disposition
• genius
• habitude
• impulse
• inclination
• leaning
• partiality
• penchant
• predilection
• predisposition
• proclivity
• propensity
• tendency
• turn

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

Noun (2)

the perfect gift for a person of a literary bent

having a decided bent for languages, he picked up Italian in no time

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Pete Hegseth, the former FOX News host tapped for defense secretary, has warned that China is bent on defeating the US and achieving global domination. —Nectar Gan, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024

While characters like Martian see the agency’s rulebook as mere guidelines to be bent when the situation calls for it, Wright says, Henry follows protocol. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 26 Nov. 2024

Noun

While the justices may look favorably on boosting government efficiency, their conservative bent would likely not outweigh their obligation to the law, Bagley said. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 23 Nov. 2024

On one hand, this season’s political bent should not be surprising. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from past participle of benden to bend

Noun (1)

irregular from bend entry 1

Noun (2)

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

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bent

• bent grass
• bent out of shape
• get bent
• hell-bent

Kids Definition

bent

1 of 3 noun

ˈbent 

: bent grass

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"