Synonyms

bent on

Idioms

Also, bent upon. Determined, resolved, as in Jamie is bent on winning the math prize. This phrase, first recorded in 1762, always uses the past participle of the verb bend in the sense of “tend toward.”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He survived waves of social change in Iran and multiple American administrations bent on undermining his rule.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The future belongs to those who innovate, and Israel and India are bent on innovation," Netanyahu said on Thursday, standing next to Modi.

From Barron's

His path took shape after Chávez, a young tank commander bent on remaking Venezuela, launched a failed coup in 1992 and was jailed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Once again, a boy from here teams up with a girl from there to defeat a villainous schemer bent on cruel domination.

From The Wall Street Journal

Beijing is bent on keeping the momentum going as it grapples with the U.S. for tech dominance, making autonomy in strategic sectors a core tenet of its five-year plan for the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023