by dint of

Idioms  

1. By means of, as in By dint of hard work he got his degree in three years. The word dint, which survives only in this expression, originally meant “a stroke or blow,” and by the late 1500s signified the force behind such a blow. The current term preserves the implication of vigorous or persistent means.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

by dint of

“Home Alone” certainly made Culkin a star, which was its intention, and O’Hara, by dint of John Hughes’ characterization, an able partner.

From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2026

Simply by dint of their tablet-like heft, dictionaries make a claim for longevity and authority.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

Yet by dint of personality alone, Son immediately lightened the mood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2025

He can get them to do things by dint of their friendship—things that other presidents cannot.

From Slate ● Jan. 20, 2025

Mrs. Fairfax stayed behind a moment to fasten the trap-door; I, by dint of groping, found the outlet from the attic, and proceeded to descend the narrow garret staircase.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë