sent
1 Americanverb
noun
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sent
First recorded in 1925–30; from Estonian senti (compare Finnish sentti ), from Latin centum “hundred”; see centum 1
Explanation
Something that's sent has been delivered or mailed, like a sent package of cookies that you dropped off earlier at the post office. The adjective sent can be used to describe things that are on their way to a certain destination. You might find a message inside a bottle on the beach, which you read again after your sent reply is bobbing on the waves in its own bottle. Sent is also the past participle of the verb send, from the Old English root sendan, "send forth, throw, or impel."
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:
She sent all her atas to school along with her children because "if someone is illiterate, there are many things they won't understand."
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
The move sent the stock into a tailspin and prompted shareholder lawsuits against Bisignano and Fiserv.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
They sent two minor leaguers — right-hander Nick Frasso, who has a 4.74 ERA in triple A, and outfielder Landyn Vidourek, a 2025 third-round pick — to the Rockies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Citing “a complex of age-related health issues,” Perez asked for Zambada to be sent to a prison medical center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
“She says her name is Mietje. She says to tell you ‘Rolf sent her.’”
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
"Vecchia zimarra, senti" the bass "Coat Song" from La Boheme, and "Magische Note," an aria from Goldmark's Queen of Sheba that contains a rare recorded example of Caruso's using falsetto, are the most unusual items.
From Time Magazine Archive
I have seen him myself,' was his only comment; and to all questionings but one reply was vouchsafed: 'Deux fois je l'ai vu: mille fois je l'ai senti.'
From Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by James, M. R. (Montague Rhodes)
"Signore noi ci siamo sole, nessuno ci senti," remarked the Signora encouragingly.
From Humour of the North by Burpee, Lawrence J. (Lawrence Johnstone)
Her Breath is her owne, which sents all the Yeere long of June, like a new made Hay-cocke.
From A Critical Essay on Characteristic-Writings From his translation of The Moral Characters of Theophrastus (1725) by Chorney, Alexander H.
By the immortel Chofe!" he would say, "dat letell ding sents me mad vid her big ice!
From Men's Wives by Thackeray, William Makepeace
They say there goin to charge three sents for a letter pretty soon.
From Dere Mable Love Letters of a Rookie by Breck, G. William
God is the divine Principle of all that repre- 272:30 sents Him and of all that really exists.
From Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures by Eddy, Mary Baker
German" legend ran thus:— "Goot rost benuts ish incite, nein sents a quoort.
From Uncle Rutherford's Nieces A Story for Girls by Mathews, Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe)
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.
