# bent

/ˈbɛnt/ (US) · /bˈɛnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bent
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. curved or out of shape

adjective · CEFR A2

not straight because it has been forced into a curve or a new shape.

For teachers: physically altered from a straight or original state into a curved or angular form.

- The bicycle wheel was bent after he hit the big rock.
- The old iron gate was so badly bent that it could no longer be latched securely against the stone post.

### 2. determined to do something

adjective · CEFR B2

very determined to do something, especially something that might be bad or harmful.

For teachers: strongly inclined or determined to pursue a specific course of action; often used with the preposition 'on'.

- She was bent on winning the race, no matter how tired she felt.
- Despite the warnings from his legal team, the CEO seemed bent on pursuing the merger at any cost.

### 3. dishonest or corrupt

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

dishonest or involved in criminal activity.

For teachers: engaging in corrupt or criminal practices; specifically used in British contexts regarding officials or police.

- The movie is about a bent copper who steals money from crime scenes.
- The investigation revealed a network of bent officials who had been accepting bribes for years to overlook safety violations.

Teaching tip: In British slang, 'copper' means police officer; a 'bent copper' is a common phrase for a corrupt one.

### 4. a natural talent

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a natural skill or interest in a particular subject or activity.

For teachers: a natural talent, aptitude, or inclination toward a specific activity or way of thinking.

- From a young age, she showed a strong artistic bent.
- His academic bent led him toward theoretical physics rather than the more practical applications of engineering.

Usage: Often follows an adjective like 'artistic', 'academic', or 'mechanical'.

## Examples

- She has a creative bent and loves painting.
- With his strong mathematical bent, he found the complex physics equations much easier to solve than his classmates did.
- The university's philosophy department has a distinctly analytical bent, focusing more on logic and language than on historical or continental traditions.

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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.