Bent over
/bɛnt ˈoʊvər/
phrasal verbB1past participle / phrasal verb form
Definition
"Bent over" describes the position or action when someone moves their upper body forward and down, usually by bending at the waist. This can happen when picking something up, looking closely at something, or working on a low surface.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
To lean the upper body forward and down by bending at the waist
- •She bent over to pick up the book from the floor.
- •He bent over the desk to write more comfortably.
- •The child bent over to tie his shoelaces.
To be in a forward-bent position for a short time
- •The gardener bent over the plants to check their leaves.
- •During the exercise, you should bend over slowly and carefully.
- •He bent over to avoid the low doorframe.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "bent over" like "lean" (A1 word), but specifically bending your body forward at the waist or hips.
- ✓Picture a person touching their toes or tying their shoes; their back is curved forward.
- ✓It's the feeling when you reach down to pick up a dropped pencil or look under a table.
- ✓Sounds like "bent" (like something not straight) + "over" (above or across) → imagine your body bending forward over something.
- ✓Remember the classic image of someone bending over to pick up a pet or to tie shoelaces.
- ✓NOT like "sit" (body down on a chair), "bent over" is about the upper body leaning forward while standing or sitting.
- ✓NOT like "bow" (which is bending forward as a polite greeting), "bent over" is more casual and often for practical reasons.
- ✓NOT like "stoop" (which can mean bending with a bad posture or because of weakness), "bent over" is a neutral description of position.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Lean forward: to move your upper body in front (Use when the movement is less about bending sharply and more about tilting)
- •Stoop: to bend forward, often with a curved back (Use when describing a bent position that may show poor posture or tiredness)
- •Bow: to bend forward as a sign of respect or greeting (Use in formal or polite situations)
- •Hunch over: to bend forward with a rounded back, often showing tension or discomfort (Use when posture is poor or uncomfortable)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "bent" (past tense/past participle of "bend") + "over" (preposition indicating direction or position)
- •Etymology: "bend" comes from Old English "bendan," meaning to curve or flex; "over" comes from Old English "ofer," meaning above or across
- •Historical development: The phrase "bend over" has been used for centuries to describe the action of leaning forward by bending at the waist
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in everyday English to describe physical posture or actions involving leaning forward, often for practical reasons like picking or looking
💭 Reflect & Connect
•In what situations do you find yourself bent over, and how does it affect your comfort or work?
•How does the difference between "bent over" and "stoop" change the way you describe someone's posture or health?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She bent over to ___ the pencil that fell on the floor.
2.When you are bent over, your back ___ forward at the waist.
3.Unlike standing straight, being bent over means your upper body is ___.
4.He bent over carefully to avoid hitting his head on the ___.
5.People often bend over when they want to ___ something close to the ground.
6.The teacher told the students not to bend over too ___ while working on their art projects.
7.When someone is bent over for a long time, it can cause ___ in the back muscles.