Bent

/bɛnt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A strong inclination or tendency.

He has a bent for adventure and loves exploring new places.

A twist or curve.

The bent of the branch made it difficult to fit the tree through the door.

verb

Past tense of 'bend'; to have changed the shape of something.

He bent the wire to create a sculpture.

adjective

Curved or shaped in a particular direction.

The metal rod was bent into a perfect circle.

Having a strong inclination or tendency.

She had a bent for mathematics from a young age.

Middle English 'benten' meaning to bend or curve.

bent out of shape

Emotionally upset or angry.

bent on something

Determined to do something.

bent and broken

Damaged or ruined.

bend

To curve or force into a shape.

bending

The action of shaping something curved.

bender

A person or thing that bends, especially a tool.

In British English, 'bent' can refer to someone who is corrupt or dishonest.

The officer was found to be bent, taking bribes.

In Australian slang, 'bent' can refer to being gay.

He's a great guy, and yeah, he's bent.