noun
Uncommon
dent
dehnt
Dent (noun) means a shallow dip or indentation in a surface, usually caused by a knock or impact. Example: “There was a dent in the car door where the shopping trolley had hit it.”
noun
1
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."
"He tried to hammer the dent out of the old saucepan."
"I noticed a small dent in the bonnet after parking under the tree."
2
A noticeable reduction or negative effect on something, especially money or resources.
"Buying the new laptop put a real dent in her savings."
"The injury put a dent in the team's title hopes."
"The unexpected repair bill made a big dent in our holiday fund."
verb
1
To strike something so it develops a dent, or to be damaged in this way.
"The hailstones dented the roof of the car."
"His confidence was dented after the harsh review."
"The tin dropped onto the stone floor and dented along one side."
How to use dent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small dip left by an impact, or figuratively any small but noticeable amount of damage.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "dint," an older word for the same thing still used in the phrase "by dint of."
Common pairings
put a dent in
a small dent
dent someone's confidence
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Word forms
- Plural
- dents
- Third person singular
- dents
- Past tense
- dented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a _____ in the car door where the shopping trolley had hit it.
Etymology
From Middle English dent/dint, from Old English dynt, meaning a blow or strike — originally the mark or sound left by hitting something.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dent
See all rhymes for 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."
