dent
1 antonym for dent — opposites grouped by meaning.
Noun — A shallow dip or indentation in a surface, usually caused by a knock or impact.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A shallow dip or indentation in a surface, usually caused by a knock or impact.
“There was a dent in the car door where the shopping trolley had hit it.”
Opposites
2. verb
To strike something so it develops a dent, or to be damaged in this way.
“The hailstones dented the roof of the car.”
Antonyms
How to use dent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
put a dent in
a small dent
dent someone's confidence
Etymology
From Middle English dent/dint, from Old English dynt, meaning a blow or strike — originally the mark or sound left by hitting something.
Full origin of dent →Frequently asked questions
What does “dent” mean?
The word “dent” means a shallow dip or indentation in a surface, usually caused by a knock or impact. In plain terms, a small dip left by an impact, or figuratively any small but noticeable amount of damage.
How do you pronounce “dent”?
“Dent” is pronounced dehnt (/dɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “dent” in a sentence?
Here is “dent” used in a sentence: “There was a dent in the car door where the shopping trolley had hit it.”
What part of speech is “dent”?
Depending on how it is used, “dent” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dent” come from?
The word “dent” comes from Old English. From Middle English dent/dint, from Old English dynt, meaning a blow or strike — originally the mark or sound left by hitting something.
Is “dent” a common word?
“Dent” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dent” have?
“Dent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a shallow dip or indentation in a surface, usually caused by a knock or impact.
What is the difference between a dent and a scratch?
A dent is a shallow dip or indentation in a surface, usually caused by an impact that pushes the material inward, while a scratch is a surface-level mark or line where material has been scraped away. A dent changes the shape of a surface, whereas a scratch only affects its finish.
What does it mean to "put a dent in" something like savings?
To "put a dent in" money or resources means to noticeably reduce them, using dent's figurative sense of a negative reduction or effect. For example, "the repair bill put a dent in our savings" means it significantly decreased the amount available.
Is dent used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes, dent functions as a noun for the indentation itself and as a verb meaning to strike something so it develops a dent, or to become damaged in this way. Both forms are common, as in "there's a dent in the car" versus "the hail dented the roof."
