dent
noun
a hollow or depression in a surface, as from a blow.
dent
1 American
[dent]
/ dɛnt /
noun
-
a hollow or depression in a surface, as from a blow.
-
a noticeable effect, especially of reduction.
to leave a dent in one's savings;
a dent in one's pride.
verb (used with object)
-
dents,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dented,
past participle, past
-
denting
present participle
-
to make a dent in or on; indent.
The impact dented the car's fender.
-
to have the effect of reducing or slightly injuring.
The caustic remark dented his ego.
verb (used without object)
-
dents,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dented,
past participle, past
-
denting
present participle
-
to show dents; become indented.
Tin dents more easily than steel.
-
to sink in, making a dent.
Nails dent into metal.
idioms
-
make a dent in, to show initial progress; pass an initial stage of (work, thought, solving a problem, etc.).
I haven't even made a dent in this pile of work.
-
make a dent, to cause a person to take heed; make an impression.
The doctor told him to stop smoking, but it didn't make a dent.
dent
2
American
[dent]
/ dɛnt /
noun
-
a toothlike projection, as a tooth of a gearwheel.
-
Textiles. the space between two wires through which the warp ends are drawn in the reed of a loom.
dent-
3
American
dent.
4
American
abbreviation
-
dental.
-
dentist.
-
dentistry.
dent
1
British
/ dɛnt /
noun
-
a hollow or dip in a surface, as one made by pressure or a blow
-
an appreciable effect, esp of lessening
a dent in our resources
verb
dent
2
British
/ dɛnt /
noun
-
a toothlike protuberance, esp the tooth of a sprocket or gearwheel
-
textiles the space between two wires in a loom through which a warp thread is drawn
dent.
3
British
abbreviation
-
dental
-
dentistry
dent
More Idioms
Usage
What does dent- mean? Dent- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “tooth.” It is used in some medical and scientific terms, including in dentistry. Dent- comes from the Latin dēns, meaning “tooth.” Greek words for “tooth” are odṓn, source of the combining forms odonto- and -odont, and odoús, source of the combining form -odus. The word dent, as in "a hollow or depression in a surface," does not share a root with the combining form dent-. Learn where dent comes from at our entry for the word. What are variants of dent-?Dent- is a variant of dento-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use dento- article. Another, more common, variant of dent-, especially before a form with a Latin root, is denti-, as in dentiform.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dentsimple
-
dentssimple
-
have dentedperfect
-
has dentedperfect
-
am dentingprogressive
-
are dentingprogressive
-
is dentingprogressive
-
have been dentingperfect progressive
-
has been dentingperfect progressive
Past
-
dentedsimple
-
had dentedperfect
-
was dentingprogressive
-
were dentingprogressive
-
had been dentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dent1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dint, dent, dunt “blow of a weapon; stroke of a sword”; see origin at dint
Origin of dent2
First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French, from Latin dent- (stem of dēns ) tooth
Explanation
A dent is a gouge or hollow that's left in a surface after some kind of blow. If you hit a soup pot with a hammer, it will leave a dent. Car accidents, whether they're serious or just fender benders, often result in dents. If you fall off your bike, you may get a dent in your helmet, and a mishandled package might be delivered to your door full of dents. There's also a figurative kind of dent, a reduction in amount: "You barely made a dent in that oatmeal — aren't you hungry?" Dent comes from Middle English, originally a variation on dint, "a blow dealt in fighting."
Vocabulary lists containing dent
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
After the 2-2 draw with Brighton in April, in which Georginio Rutter scored a 95th-minute equaliser to dent Spurs' survival hopes, De Zerbi revealed he messaged Van Hecke, who assisted the goal.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Critics say it would destroy public support for the program and increase bureaucracy and administrative costs, while barely putting a dent in the funding crisis.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Supporters hope it will put a dent in both California and the nation’s housing shortage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Known as the Nix-Gao nanoindentation size effect, this phenomenon means that smaller areas of a material can be more difficult to dent.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 16, 2026
“Mr. Trant, I hope you didn’t dent your locker,” Mr. Turner said, his voice as cold as ice.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
“A thousand dollars is not going to make a dent. But it’s a good amount to buy something like furniture.”
From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2024
Even Tyrell had to admit, “No, I don’t think there was a dent. But they wouldn’t let us get off the bus to look. And we had to sit and wait forever.”
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
“Probably. I don’t think it would really make a dent. Back in Georgia everybody we knew had an automobile.”
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Fallon - who is a driving instructor and had two cars covered in dents - said she was concerned her insurance premium would increase.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
Although those are only small dents in the huge gains the two companies have racked up in recent months, they are signs of some nervousness around AI hardware plays.
From Barron's ● May 18, 2026
If the car has significant interior damage or noticeable dents and scratches, Consumer Reports notes, expect to pay extra.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 4, 2026
Or investing too little in employees may alienate workers enough that it increases turnover or dents productivity, ultimately hurting a company financially.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025
She had on bright red nail polish and I couldn’t get my eyes off the way her fingers tapped on my desktop and were leaving tiny half-moon dents in the wood.
From "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" by Jack Gantos
Sentiment towards the memory chip makers was dented Wednesday by weaker-than-expected guidance from U.S. peer Sandisk.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
While the effects from the war mostly benefited ExxonMobil, damage to key liquefied natural gas assets in Qatar dented output.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
The outbreak has led to lower visits to the chain and dented shares since reports of cases emerged earlier this month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The results were dented in part by $205 million in costs related to the spinoff.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
She stops at Grandma Mae’s old blue Toyota, which is all dented in on the side, from her accident, I guess.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Europe's beleaguered top economy, especially its energy-hungry manufacturers, have been hit hard by the energy shock unleashed by the war, denting hopes of a strong rebound this year.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
China’s auto market weakened further in May, with rising oil prices denting demand for gasoline-powered cars and helping electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles capture a record share of new car sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
The cease-fire news sends oil prices lower and improves risk sentiment, denting the dollar due to America’s position as a net oil exporter and the currency’s safe-haven status.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
In 2024, American scrapped an attempted revamp of its corporate booking system, denting performance.
From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026
Then I felt dead selfish and bossy and mean, and tried to apologize to Papa Thibaut’s mate, in my rubbish French, for denting his fender.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
