NYT Dictionary

BEND

/bɛnd/
VerbNounBENDGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *bindaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *bandijaną Proto-West Germanic *bandijan Old English bendan Middle English benden English bend From Middle English benden, from Old English bendan (“to bind or bend (a bow), fetter, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bandijan, from Proto-Germanic *bandijaną (“to bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, tie”). Cognate with Middle High German benden (“to fetter”), Danish bænde (“to bend”), Norwegian bende (“to bend”), Faroese benda (“to bend, inflect”), Icelandic benda (“to bend”). Related to bind, band, bond.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

flexbendbowcourbcurbcurlcurvecrookincurvatetwist

Antonyms

straightenrectifyunbenduncoiluncurlunfoldunroll

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 7 recorded puzzles:

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