unbend

/ˌʌnˈbend/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌnbˈɛnd] /ˌʌnˈbend/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌnbˈɛnd] /ˌən-ˈbend How to pronounce unbend (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unbend — verb

  • unbendpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • unbendshe / she / it
  • unbentpast simple
  • unbending-ing form

1. to stop behaving in a formal, serious, or strict way and instead act in a more r

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to stop behaving in a formal, serious, or strict way and instead act in a more relaxed and friendly manner toward others

例句

The professor rarely unbends, but at dinner he told a story from his student days.

unbend + at [event]; contrast with usual formality

Iris is strict in meetings, but she unbends when talking one-on-one with her team.

同義詞
  • relax

    much more common and broader in meaning; 'unbend' adds the nuance of releasing formality specifically

  • loosen up

    informal phrasal verb; slightly more casual than 'unbend'

反義詞
  • stiffen

    to become more formal or tense in manner

文法句型

unbend + (no object)

用法筆記

Used intransitively — you cannot 'unbend someone'. Common in contexts describing a shift from a formal or tense atmosphere to a more casual one.

常見錯誤

❌She unbended the rules for us.
✅She relaxed the rules for us.
💡'unbend' does NOT mean 'to relax rules or requirements'; it only refers to one's own manner or behaviour.

2. to cause something that is bent, curled, or folded to become straight; or to bec

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to cause something that is bent, curled, or folded to become straight; or to become straight again after being bent or twisted

例句

Beatriz used pliers to unbend the twisted coat hanger for her craft project.

transitive: unbend + object (twisted coat hanger)

The pages of the notebook unbent after lying under books for two days.

intransitive: the pages unbent (no object)

同義詞
  • straighten

    much more common in everyday English; can be used for body parts, objects, and abstract situations

  • straighten out

    phrasal verb, common in both literal and figurative use

反義詞
  • bend

    to apply force so that something is no longer straight

  • twist

    to bend something out of its natural shape by turning

文法句型

unbend + object (transitive)

object + unbend (intransitive)

用法筆記

Can be either transitive (you unbend something) or intransitive (something unbends). This literal sense is less common in everyday speech than the synonym 'straighten'.

常見錯誤

❌She unbent her legs after sitting for hours.
✅She straightened her legs after sitting for hours.
💡'unbend' is not typically used for body parts outside of specialised contexts.