# bends

/ˈbɛndz/ (US) · /bˈɛndz/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bends
Updated: 2026-05-29

## Definition

to curve or change direction. You use this when something is not straight, like a road or a river.

For teachers: to curve or change direction; to move in a curved path. Intransitive in its primary sense; transitive when meaning to force something into a curve.

## Examples

- The road bends sharply to the left.
- The river bends around the hill before reaching the town.
- The path winds through the forest, bending gently to avoid the steep cliffs.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive when describing the subject's own movement; transitive when an agent forces an object to curve.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.