dent

[ dent ]

/ dɛnt /

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See synonyms for dent on Thesaurus.com

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)

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)

to show dents; become indented: Tin dents more easily than steel.

to sink in, making a dent: Nails dent into metal.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for dent

make a dent, Informal. to cause a person to take heed; make an impression: The doctor told him to stop smoking, but it didn't make a dent.

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.

Origin of dent

1250–1300; Middle English dente, variant of dint

OTHER WORDS FROM dent

un·dent·ed, adjective

Words nearby dent

densimeter, dens in dente, densitometer, density, density function, dent, dental, dental abscess, dental anatomy, dental arch, dental assistant

Definition for dent (2 of 4)

dent²

[ 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.

Origin of dent

1545–55; <Middle French <Latin dent- (stem of dēns) tooth

Definition for dent (3 of 4)

dent-

variant of denti- before a vowel: dentin.

Definition for dent (4 of 4)

dent.

abbreviation

dental.

dentist.

dentistry.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for dent

Multiply this at the scale of Facebook’s billions of users and across all subject matters, and it’s easy to see why simply not “recommending” some groups barely makes a dent.
Facebook tries to clean up Groups with new policies|Sarah Perez|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
Many of those top-of-the-line homes on wheels can put a dent in your savings as large as a condo.
Can’t Afford a Sprinter? Get a Tiny Van Instead.|Emily Pennington|September 16, 2020|Outside Online
Yet, you want your brand to gain traction and make a dent, in spite of the dominant brands.
Inbound marketing for brand awareness: Four up-to-date ways to do it|Ali Faagba|September 11, 2020|Search Engine Watch
The vaccine has to be effective, and there needs to be enough of it to put a dent in transmission.
A third of Americans might refuse a Covid-19 vaccine. How screwed are we?|Brian Resnick|September 4, 2020|Vox

I won’t say it’s cured me of my insomnia completely, but it’s made enough of a dent to keep it around.
The best things I bought in August|Rachel Schallom|August 30, 2020|Fortune
My desk still has the dent from where I hit my head against it when I heard that one.
Why So Many Surgeons Are Psychos|Russell Saunders|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That is bound to put a dent in public confidence in the police.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle|Marlow Stern|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even with mixed reviews, the film did little to dent Clooney's reputation.
Clooney: A Constant Charmer at the Altar|Tim Teeman|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Plane travel is extremely dehydrating, and continuously purchasing water at airport prices can put a dent in your wallet.
How to Get Cheaper Tickets, Live Like a Local, and Other Great Travel Hacks|Brandon Presser|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Emergency benefits have just expired for some 1.3 million jobless Americans, putting a huge dent in our economy.
Republicans’ Unemployment Shame|Jamelle Bouie|December 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I guess he can't make a dent on the Chinese disposition, or he'd have had Wong dead before this.
Mystery Ranch|Arthur Chapman
Please take the dent out of my side, Poly, for I am more crippled than was the Soldier.
The Tin Woodman of Oz|L. Frank Baum
The snow-covered Dent du Midi had a splendor like the face of the full moon when it is rising.
Rudy and Babette|Hans Christian Andersen
Then he would show the dent in his cheek, and pass his helmet round for all to see, as a conjurer does.
The Relief of Mafeking|Filson Young
Mr. John Dent was born about the middle of the eighteenth century.
English Book Collectors|William Younger Fletcher

British Dictionary definitions for dent (1 of 3)

dent¹

/ (dɛnt) /

noun

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

an appreciable effect, esp of lesseninga dent in our resources

verb

to impress or be impressed with a dent or dents

Word Origin for dent

C13 (in the sense: a stroke, blow): variant of dint

British Dictionary definitions for dent (2 of 3)

dent²

/ (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

Word Origin for dent

C16: from French: tooth

British Dictionary definitions for dent (3 of 3)

dent.

abbreviation for

dental

dentistry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for dent

dent-

pref.

Variant ofdenti-

Idioms and Phrases with dent

dent

see make a dent in.

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