Bent Meaning
/bɛnt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbsimple past and past participle of bend
adjFolded or dented out of its usual shape.
Sentence Examples
The doctor bent over the sick boy.
The thin man paused in the shade with his knees a little bent.
She bent to retrieve her comb from the floor.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
She was so ____ on winning the race that she trained every day.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He ____ over to pick up the coin that he had dropped on the ground today.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Asked bluntly by Julie Webb of the NME whether he was “bent” in December 1974, Freddie answered evasively: “You're a crafty cow. […]”"
— 2019 January 22, Joe Sommerlad, “The reasons why Bohemian Rhapsody faced such a massive backlash”, in The Independent:
"[…]in the ape posse, bent on vengeance, traversing landscapes clothed in snow and bristling with California red fir and silver pine, spooking human stragglers, and running across fresh graves as they search for the nameless colonel and try to piece together why the humans are killing each other."
— 2017 July 7, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “The ambitious War For The Planet Of The Apes ends up surrendering to formula”, in The Onion AV Club:
"They fool me to the top of my bent."
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 384:
"“The Kingdom of the Wicked” is not Mr. Burgess at the top of his bent. It is not schlock."
— 1985 September 22, John Crowley, “St. Paul Meets Nero”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
"the force they have in the discharge , according to several bents"
— 1648, John Wilkins, Mathematicall Magick. Or, The Wonders that may be Performed by Mechanicall Geometry. […], London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Sa[muel] Gellibrand […], →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She was so ____ on winning the race that she trained every day.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He ____ over to pick up the coin that he had dropped on the ground today.