unbend
/ʌnˈbɛnd/
"unbend" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“unbend” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 6
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To remove a bend so as to make, or allow to become, straight.
Corpus desk
Index EN-unbend · unbend · English
unbend · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-LONG 6 letters
- VOW-2 2 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "U" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | unbend |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ʌnˈbɛnd/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “unbend” in English
Rare enough to double-check
unbend is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ʌnˈbɛnd/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 7 senses are on record.
Zero misspellings are on record for unbend in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English unbenden, equivalent to un- + bend. The correct English form is unbend, spelled U-N-B-E-N-D.
Definition
- 1To remove a bend so as to make, or allow to become, straight.
- 2To release (a load) from a strain or from exertion; to set at ease for a time; to relax.
- 3To unfasten sails from the spars or stays to which are attached for use.
- 4To cast loose or untie
- 5To cease to be bent; to become straight.
- 6To relax in exertion, attention, severity, or the like
- 7to enjoy oneself; to become affable and free from formality
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how unbend appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
to unbend a bow
He leant tensely against the corridor wall and frowned like a man trying to unbend a corkscrew by telekinesis.
Etymology
From Middle English unbenden, equivalent to un- + bend.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.