bend over
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to move the top part of your body forward and down.
phrasal verb. to incline the torso forward and downward from the waist or hips.
I have to bend over to tie my shoes.
She had to bend over the desk to read the small print on the document.
The gardener spent the entire afternoon bending over the flower beds, carefully removing weeds without damaging the delicate roots of the perennials.
Usage
often used with 'to' or 'and' followed by an action.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'lean over' (which implies a slight tilt or support) and 'bend down' (which is more general and often involves the knees); 'bend over' specifically focuses on the waist.
Pitfall
He bended over.He bent over.the past tense of 'bend' is 'bent', not 'bended'.
Last updated April 24, 2026