to unbend

Examples

• All

• I want you to unbend, unbend the paper clip.

• -You can't unbend the twig after the tree is full grown.

  Living in a Big Way (1947)

• Rockmother's trying to unbend her hands, saying "See what you've done?"

  Fiction book (2002)

• But, I reasoned, if I were to have something that would hold my hand straight once I managed to unbend the fingers, then perhaps I would be able to stand on all fours, strengthening my arm and hand.

  Fiction book (1993)

• The marble Buddha unbends his cramped legs and stands tall as a tree.

  Fiction book (2001)

• She unbends her knees, peeks over a washer.

  Fiction book (1994)

• My arms would not unbend from their soldier's crook to gently cup the bobbing head and soft body. I felt the itch in my armpit for a rifle's wooden stock.

  Fiction book (2002)

• She used the heat to unbend the metal, making it straight again.

• To fix the bent ruler, I carefully unbend it by hand.

• The technician showed us how to unbend the wire without damaging it.

Synonyms

S

to straighten

vsto unbend

114 2.5

Make something straight and in the right position

focuses on returning straightness after a bend or curve

S

to straighten out

vsto unbend

11 2.9

To make something free of bends, twists, or knots

focuses specifically on regaining straightness after a bend or curve

U

to unwind

vsto unbend

5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

is about returning straightness after a bend or curve, not specifically unwinding

U

to uncoil

vsto unbend

3 3.7

To make something that is rolled or curled become straight

covers straightening after any bend or curve, not limited to coils

U

to untwist

vsto unbend

2 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

refers to straightening after bends or curves rather than only twists

U

to uncurl

vsto unbend

2 3.2

To move from a rolled or folded shape into a more open form

describes restoring straightness from bends or curves more broadly

U

to unkink

vsto unbend

1 5.8

To make a hose, wire, or rope straight by removing bends

applies to general straightening after a bend or curve rather than only kinks

Antonyms

B

to bend

268 1.0

To make something curved instead of straight

How Straight

to straighten

114 2.5

to unbend

4.9

to uncurl

2 3.2

to bend

268 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology