bent
gb/bˈɛnt/ us/bˈɛnt/
A2
Engels
~ 10000
Betekenissen
0 betekenissen
adjective
A2
property
1
not straight in shape
Not straight in shape; curved or twisted, often because it was pushed or hit.
Gebruikspatroon:
[something] is bent
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners sometimes confuse the adjective "bent" with the verb "bend." Use "bent" to describe the result (The nail is bent) and "bend" for the action (I bend the nail).
Synoniemen
curved (More general word for a smooth, rounded shape, not necessarily damaged.)
|
twisted (Suggests stronger or more irregular bending, often more damaged than just bent.)
Antoniemen
straight (Describes something with no curve or bend.)
Woordcombinaties
bent nail
|bent metal
|bent wire
|slightly bent
|bent frame
|bent spoon
Thema's
daily life
|objects
|core_vocabulary
Voorbeelden
- The bike’s front wheel is bent and keeps rubbing against the frame.
- He tried to use the screwdriver, but the tip was too bent to fit the screws.
- The artist used a piece of bent metal to make the sculpture.
- After the accident, the car door was badly bent and wouldn’t close properly.
- Check the plug; if the pins are bent, it won’t go into the socket.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- The table leg is bent and the table moves.
- This fork is bent, so it is hard to use.
- My glasses are bent after I sat on them.
- The wire is bent into a circle.
- The road ahead is not straight; it is bent to the left.
adjective
B2
property
2
strongly determined to do something
Wanting very strongly to do something and not planning to stop or change your mind.
Gebruikspatroon:
[someone] is bent on [doing something]
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners sometimes say "bent to" instead of "bent on." The natural pattern is "bent on [noun/gerund]": "bent on success," "bent on winning," not *"bent to win."
Synoniemen
determined (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and neutral in tone.)
|
intent (More formal and often used with a similar pattern: "intent on doing something.")
Antoniemen
indifferent (Shows no strong feeling or interest about the goal.)
Woordcombinaties
bent on revenge
|bent on success
|bent on winning
|bent on change
|bent on finding the truth
Thema's
emotions
|goals
|core_vocabulary
Voorbeelden
- She seems absolutely bent on proving everyone wrong.
- They are bent on expanding the business into new markets.
- He was bent on becoming a doctor, no matter how long it took.
- The group is bent on changing the law to protect the environment.
- The manager is bent on cutting costs this year.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- She is bent on passing the exam.
- He is bent on becoming a famous singer.
- They are bent on winning the game.
- The company is bent on making more money this year.
- My brother is bent on learning English quickly.
Zelfstandig naamwoord
C1
entity
3
natural liking or tendency
A natural interest or talent for something, which makes a person like to do it or be good at it.
Gebruikspatroon:
a [adjective] bent for [something]
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners sometimes treat "bent" here like an adjective and say "he is very bent" to mean he is artistic or creative. In this sense, "bent" is a noun, so say "He has an artistic bent" or "He has a bent for music."
Synoniemen
inclination (Very close in meaning but a little more formal; can also refer to general preferences, not just talents.)
Antoniemen
aversion (A strong dislike of something, the opposite of a natural liking or talent.)
Woordcombinaties
artistic bent
|musical bent
|creative bent
|scientific bent
|political bent
|technical bent
Thema's
personality
|interests
|core_vocabulary
|education
Voorbeelden
- From an early age, she showed a strong artistic bent.
- His scientific bent made him a perfect fit for the research team.
- The school tries to support students with a musical bent.
- Writers with a political bent are often drawn to opinion columns.
- Her technical bent helped her quickly learn to code.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- He has an artistic bent and loves to draw.
- My sister has a musical bent and plays three instruments.
- Students with a scientific bent may enjoy this class.
- Her bent is more creative than practical.
- People with a technical bent often like computers.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
dishonest or corrupt (informal)
Dishonest and ready to break the law or rules, especially when someone has power or an important job.
Gebruikspatroon:
[someone/something] is bent
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners may think "bent" here means physically not straight. In this sense, it is a slangy way to say "corrupt" or "dishonest," usually about police, officials, or systems.
Synoniemen
corrupt (Standard term in formal and informal contexts; slightly more common and neutral than "bent.")
Antoniemen
honest (Describes someone who does not lie, cheat, or take bribes.)
Woordcombinaties
bent cop
|bent politician
|bent judge
|bent officer
|bent system
|bent referee
Thema's
law
|society
|politics
Voorbeelden
- The film follows a bent cop who takes money from local gangs.
- They claimed the whole council was bent and working for developers.
- A few bent officers can damage trust in the entire police force.
- Journalists uncovered a network of bent officials taking bribes.
- People are tired of bent politicians promising change but stealing money.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- The movie is about a bent police officer who takes money.
- Many people think some leaders are bent.
- A few bent judges can hurt the legal system.
- Voters were angry when they learned the mayor was bent.
- He says the system is bent and does not help poor people.
adjective
vulgar
C1
property
5
homosexual (offensive slang)
A rude and offensive word for someone who is gay. It should not be used.
Gebruikspatroon:
[someone] is bent
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners sometimes see "bent" used for gay people in older books or movies and think it is normal English. Today it is rude and offensive. Use respectful words like "gay" or "lesbian," and only when relevant and appropriate.
Synoniemen
gay (Standard, neutral word; not offensive. "Bent" in this sense is insulting and should be avoided.)
Antoniemen
straight (Informal word meaning heterosexual; often used in contrast to "gay.")
Woordcombinaties
call someone bent
|think someone is bent
Thema's
relationships
|identity
Voorbeelden
- The word "bent" for gay people is considered offensive and should be avoided.
- In that old TV show, some characters use "bent" as an insult, which many viewers now find unacceptable.
- He was bullied at school and called "bent" by other students.
- Writers today usually avoid using "bent" in this way unless they are showing prejudice in a story.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- Some people use the word "bent" for gay people, but it is rude.
- Do not call a person "bent"; say "gay" if they use that word for themselves.
- The boys at school called him "bent," and it hurt him.
- This word for gay people is old and offensive.
- Modern teachers say you should not use the word "bent" for someone who is gay.
Zelfstandig naamwoord
technical
C1
entity
6
a type of grass (bent)
A kind of grass plant, often called bent grass, that grows in fields or on lawns and is used on some golf courses.
Gebruikspatroon:
[something] is covered with bent
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners rarely use this word, but they may not realize that "bent" can also be a kind of grass when reading nature or farming texts.
Synoniemen
bentgrass (Alternative spelling, mainly in North American English, used especially in gardening and turf contexts.)
Antoniemen
broadleaf plant (A general term for non-grass plants with wider leaves, contrasting with grasses like bent.)
Woordcombinaties
bent grass
|creeping bent
|coastal bent
|bent pasture
Thema's
nature
|plants
Voorbeelden
- The dunes are held together by hardy bent growing in the sand.
- The golf course uses a mixture of bent and fescue on the greens.
- Farmers complained that the field was mostly bent and other coarse grasses.
- Coastal bent is well adapted to salty, windy conditions.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- Bent grows in the sandy soil near the sea.
- The grass on this golf course is a special bent grass.
- Some fields have mostly bent and not many flowers.
- Bent can help hold sand in place on beaches.
Grammatica
Lemmavorm
bent
IPA
GB/bˈɛnt/
US/bˈɛnt/
Lettergrepen en klemtoon
bent (1 lettergreep)
Stress on 1st syllable (bent)
Woordvormen
Adjective
- Base: bent
Noun
- Base: bent
- Plural: bents
Woordfamilie
Forms
bents
noun
Core family
bend
verb A2
Related words
bendable
adjective
bendy
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unbent
adjective
Advanced or less common
unbend
verb
Uitdrukkingen
bent on
1/bˈɛnt ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
firmly determined about something
To be very determined to do something, and not likely to change your mind.
Voorbeelden
- She is bent on starting her own business before she turns thirty.
- They seem bent on making the project a success, whatever it costs.
- He’s bent on improving his English this year and studies every night.
bent out of shape
1/bˈɛnt ˈaʊt əv ʃˈeɪp/
idiom
informal
very upset or annoyed
To become very upset, angry, or offended, often about something small.
Voorbeelden
- Don’t get bent out of shape over one small mistake.
- He got really bent out of shape when they changed the meeting time.
- She tends to get bent out of shape if people are a few minutes late.
get bent
1/ɡˈɛt bˈɛnt/
idiom
vulgar
rude way to say go away
A very rude way to tell someone to go away or show strong dislike, similar to saying "go to hell."
Voorbeelden
- He told the reporter to get bent and slammed the door.
- "Get bent," she muttered under her breath as she walked away.
- That phrase is offensive; telling someone to get bent will probably make them angry.
hell-bent on
1/hˈɛl bˈɛnt ˈɔn/
idiom
informal
extremely determined, regardless of risk
Very strongly and sometimes blindly determined to do something, even if it is dangerous or unwise.
Voorbeelden
- He seems hell-bent on quitting his job, even though he has no other offer.
- The government is hell-bent on pushing through the reforms despite protests.
- She was hell-bent on winning the race, no matter how tired she felt.