bend

bend — verb

1. to become curved or slant to one side, or to force something into that shape or

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to become curved or slant to one side, or to force something into that shape or path

例句

Nina bent the wire into a small heart for the card.

bend something into a shape

The road bends left after the bridge by the rice fields.

intransitive: bend + direction

同義詞
  • curve

    often suggests a smoother, rounder change of line

  • turn

    works well for direction changes, but is less about shape

  • twist

    suggests turning around itself, not simply becoming curved

反義詞

文法句型

bend something into a shape

bend + direction

bend around something

用法筆記

Often takes a physical object, route, or line as its subject or object. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about moving your own body or a body part rather than changing the shape or course of another thing.

常見錯誤

❌The road bends to left after the station.
✅The road bends left after the station.
💡bend commonly takes a direction word directly here.

2. to lower, fold, or lean your body, or a joint such as an arm or knee, away from

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to lower, fold, or lean your body, or a joint such as an arm or knee, away from a straight position

例句

Luca bent his knees before jumping off the low wall.

bend + body part

Grandma bent down to pick up the fallen orange.

bend down + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • lean

    focuses more on moving the body in one direction than on folding a joint

  • stoop

    usually means bending the back downward

  • crouch

    suggests lowering the whole body more deeply

反義詞

文法句型

bend your knees

bend down

bend forward

用法筆記

Common with body-part objects such as knees, elbows, and back, or with particles and adverbs like down and forward. Distinguish from sense 1, where a road, tree, or other thing changes shape or direction.

常見錯誤

❌Mina bent down her knees before the jump.
✅Mina bent her knees before the jump.
💡with knees, bend usually takes the body part directly, without down.

3. used in on bended knee for someone on one knee or asking in a very respectful wa

3.動詞
釋義

used in on bended knee for someone on one knee or asking in a very respectful way

例句

In the play, the prince waited on bended knee with a ring.

fixed phrase: on bended knee

After the argument, Jason came on bended knee to apologize.

同義詞
  • kneeling

    the plain literal word, without the formal tone

  • pleading

    fits the figurative meaning of humble asking

反義詞
  • upright

    standing rather than kneeling

  • defiant

    showing resistance instead of humble submission

文法句型

on bended knee

on bended knees

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the set phrase on bended knee or on bended knees. It is often used literally for kneeling, but it can also sound figurative or slightly dramatic when someone is begging for help or forgiveness.

常見錯誤

❌He came on bending knee to beg for mercy.
✅He came on bended knee to beg for mercy.
💡the phrase uses bended, not bending.

4. to treat a rule less strictly because the case seems special or harmless

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

to treat a rule less strictly because the case seems special or harmless

例句

The coach bent the rules so injured players could rest.

bend the rules

At home, Dad bends the rules on birthdays and lets us stay up.

同義詞
  • relax

    more formal and often used for making rules less strict in general

  • make an exception

    states the result directly rather than using an idiom

  • stretch

    can suggest going a little farther than is fully proper

反義詞

文法句型

bend the rules

bend a rule for somebody

用法筆記

Usually takes rule or rules as the object, often with for + person or because of a situation. It suggests a small or practical exception, not a complete refusal to follow the law.

常見錯誤

❌The principal bent for me because I was sick.
✅The principal bent the rules for me because I was sick.
💡this sense normally needs rules or rule as the object.

bend — noun