wend

1 of 2

verb

wended; wending; wends

intransitive verb

: to direct one's course : travel

transitive verb

: to proceed on (one's way) : direct

Wend

2 of 2

noun

: a member of a Slavic people of eastern Germany

Examples of wend in a Sentence

Verb We wended through the narrow streets. We wended our way through the narrow streets.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Yet as the film wends its way through the narrow streets, harbors and glittering waters of Spain’s salty Galician coastline, immersing itself in chaotic gatherings of family and community, the title’s spiritual aspect takes on a rueful irony. Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025 Even with the backing of the European Commission decision, the civil suits now wending their way through the courts are not certain victories. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 May 2025 Then, with Tucci as your fantasy driver, wend along winding roads, past vineyards and forests, to meet fascinating folk and to indulge in pizza, porchetta, lamb and rustic fish soup. Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 January and February are, however, the months when hotel rates drop, restaurants are more welcoming and less pricey, and the ability to wend your way through the myriad neighborhood streets is easy and revelatory of Venice’s true character. John Mariani, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for wend

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English wendan; akin to Old High German wenten to turn, Old English windan to twist — more at wind entry 3

Noun

German Wende, from Old High German Winida; akin to Old English Winedas, plural, Wends

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wend was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Wend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wend. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

wend

verb
: to go one's way : proceed
wending their way home

More from Merriam-Webster on wend

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