Phrasal verb
bend down
Meanings
to lower your body by bending at the waist or knees, especially to reach something near the ground
to bend your head or upper body downward to look closely at something
Definition
To bend your body downward, usually to reach something or lower your height.
To bend down means to move your upper body toward the ground by bending at the waist or knees. People do this to pick something up, look closely at something, or make themselves lower. It is a common everyday action and is often followed by an infinitive phrase like “to pick up” or “to tie.”
Examples
- I had to bend down to tie my shoe.
- You should bend down and pick up the coin.
- He bent down to speak to the child at eye level.
- She bent down to smell the flowers in the garden.
- They bent down to look under the sofa for the missing remote.
Common mistake
Learners often say "bend" alone when they need the particle, but in many contexts the natural phrasing is "bend down" (e.g., "bend down to pick it up").
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.