Jump To:

• dent
  dent

  noun

  a hollow or depression in a surface, as from a blow.
• dent-
  dent-

  variant of denti- before a vowel.
• dent.
  dent.

  abbreviation

  dental.

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.

---

verb (used with object)

• dents,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dented,
  past participle,  past
• denting
  present participle

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)

• dents,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dented,
  past participle,  past
• denting
  present participle

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.

---

dent- ³ American  

1. variant of denti- before a vowel.

   dentin.

---

dent. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. dental.

2. dentist.

3. dentistry.

---

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

---

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

---

dent. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. dental

2. dentistry

---

dent More Idioms  

1. see make a dent in.

---

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

• undented
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• denting
  present
• dented
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• dent
  simple
• dents
  simple
• have dented
  perfect
• has dented
  perfect
• am denting
  progressive
• are denting
  progressive
• is denting
  progressive
• have been denting
  perfect progressive
• has been denting
  perfect progressive

Past

• dented
  simple
• had dented
  perfect
• was denting
  progressive
• were denting
  progressive
• had been denting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will dent
  simple
• will have dented
  perfect
• will be denting
  progressive
• will have been denting
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dent dent. dents dented denting

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

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

Since the overall unemployment rate remains low, there aren’t enough people struggling with long-term unemployment to meaningfully dent the economy, which remains buoyed by solid consumer spending.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

But in a school of 1100, that hardly made a dent.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

“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

“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

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

Resident Catherine Fallon said she had received a figure "in excess of £10,000" to get one of her cars repaired and there were about "150 dents" in another.

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

But Flock’s AI-powered cameras go even further by also documenting other identifying vehicle details, such as make, model and color, as well as any distinctive markings like scratches or dents on a bumper.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 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

It had acquired several deep dents that had not been there when he’d donned it.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Sentiment towards the memory chip makers was dented Wednesday by weaker-than-expected guidance from U.S. peer Sandisk.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 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 campaign has triggered nationwide fuel shortages and, Kyiv says, dented Russia's financial war chest.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Sales were dented by the end of production of the gasoline-powered 718, strong demand for the all-electric Macan in the same period last year, and the end of U.S. tax incentives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

“It’ll be good, though. My body may be a bit dented, but my mind is still sharp.”

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon

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

Southwest reported a first-quarter profit of $227 million, with higher fuel costs denting earnings by 22 cents a share.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026

Before the war, years of persistent inflation hadn’t shown signs of denting consumer spending, which grew by 5.3% before adjusting for inflation in the 12 months through February, the Commerce Department said last week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026

McElligott explains that headed into 2026, markets were braced for “slow bleed” headwinds like AI hyperscalers burning through cash, either denting stock buybacks or worrying the bond market that has to fund it.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 4, 2026

She sat up now, her elbows denting the pillow as she looked into my face.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Related Words

• incision
• indentation