noun

dint

dihnt

Dint (noun) means Force or effort, especially in the phrase "by dint of.". Example: “She passed the exam by dint of sheer hard work.”

noun

Force or effort, especially in the phrase "by dint of."

"She passed the exam by dint of sheer hard work."

A dent or mark left by a blow.

"There was a small dint in the car door from the hailstorm."

How to use dint

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMostly survives today in the phrase "by dint of," meaning "by means of" or "through."

Common mistake

Rarely used outside "by dint of" in modern English — using it as a plain synonym for "dent" will sound archaic.

Easily confused with

dent →

Common pairings

by dint of hard work by dint of persistence

Word forms

dinted past tense, dints plural, dints singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She passed the exam by _____ of sheer hard work.

Etymology

From Old English dynt, meaning a blow or strike, related to the same Germanic root as "dent."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for dint

int mint pint tint hint lint print flint skint stint glint Clint

See all rhymes for dint →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dint” mean?

The word “dint” means force or effort, especially in the phrase "by dint of.". In plain terms, mostly survives today in the phrase "by dint of," meaning "by means of" or "through.".

How do you pronounce “dint”?

“Dint” is pronounced dihnt (/dɪnt/ in IPA).

How do you use “dint” in a sentence?

Here is “dint” used in a sentence: “She passed the exam by dint of sheer hard work.”

What part of speech is “dint”?

“Dint” is a noun.

Where does the word “dint” come from?

The word “dint” comes from Old English. From Old English dynt, meaning a blow or strike, related to the same Germanic root as "dent.".

How many meanings does “dint” have?

“Dint” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: force or effort, especially in the phrase "by dint of.".