dent

¹ American  

[dent] / dɛnt /

noun

1. a hollow or depression in a surface, as from a blow.

2. a noticeable effect, especially of reduction.

   to leave a dent in one's savings;

   a dent in one's pride.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a dent in or on; indent.

   The impact dented the car's fender.

2. to have the effect of reducing or slightly injuring.

   The caustic remark dented his ego.

verb (used without object)

1. to show dents; become indented.

   Tin dents more easily than steel.

2. to sink in, making a dent.

   Nails dent into metal.

idioms

1. 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.

2. 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

1. a toothlike projection, as a tooth of a gearwheel.

2. Textiles. the space between two wires through which the warp ends are drawn in the reed of a loom.

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dent- ³ American  

1. variant of denti- before a vowel.

   dentin.

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dent. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. dental.

2. dentist.

3. dentistry.

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dent ¹ British  

/ dɛnt /

noun

1. a hollow or dip in a surface, as one made by pressure or a blow

2. an appreciable effect, esp of lessening

   a dent in our resources

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verb

1. to impress or be impressed with a dent or dents

dent ² British  

/ dɛnt /

noun

1. a toothlike protuberance, esp the tooth of a sprocket or gearwheel

2. textiles the space between two wires in a loom through which a warp thread is drawn

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dent. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. dental

2. dentistry

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dent More Idioms  

1. see make a dent in.

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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

• undented adjective

Etymology

Origin of dent¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dint, dent, dunt “blow of a weapon; stroke of a sword”; dint

Origin of dent²

First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French, from Latin dent- (stem of dēns ) tooth

Example Sentences

There was also a slight dent in the unemployment rate, from 4.4 percent to 4.3 percent.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

In an effort to put a dent in the state’s housing shortage, California is considering something unprecedented: getting into the construction insurance business.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Movsar Evloev put a huge dent in Lerone Murphy's featherweight title dream as the Russian secured a majority decision victory at UFC London.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

That could put another dent in a struggling U.S. labor market and perhaps even raise unemployment.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

Her eyes darted between the numerous pieces of farming equipment around the barn, but none of it would make a dent in the Varangian.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• incision
• indentation