dimple
Americannoun
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dimples
plural
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a small, natural hollow area or crease, permanent or transient, in some soft part of the human body, especially one formed in the cheek in smiling.
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any similar slight depression.
verb (used with object)
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dimples,
present (3rd person singular)
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dimpled,
past participle, past
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dimpling
present participle
-
to mark with or as if with dimples; produce dimples in.
A smile dimpled her face.
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Metalworking.
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to dent (a metal sheet) so as to permit use of bolts or rivets with countersunk heads.
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to mark (a metal object) with a drill point as a guide for further drilling.
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verb (used without object)
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dimples,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dimpled,
past participle, past
-
dimpling
present participle
noun
-
a small natural dent or crease in the flesh, esp on the cheeks or chin
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any slight depression in a surface
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a bubble or dent in glass
verb
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to make or become dimpled
-
(intr) to produce dimples by smiling
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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dimplesimple
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dimplessimple
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have dimpledperfect
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has dimpledperfect
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am dimplingprogressive
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are dimplingprogressive
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is dimplingprogressive
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have been dimplingperfect progressive
-
has been dimplingperfect progressive
Past
-
dimpledsimple
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had dimpledperfect
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was dimplingprogressive
-
were dimplingprogressive
-
had been dimplingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dimple
1350–1400; Middle English dimpel, Old English *dympel; cognate with German Tümpel pool
Explanation
A dimple is a small indentation in a surface. A dimple on your cheek is cute, but a dimple on your car door is not so cute. A dimple can be an imperfection or tiny dent, but it's often a little cleft in a person's cheek or chin. People whose dimples show when they smile are particularly charming, and a dimpled chin is often considered quite handsome. One theory of the word's origin is that it meant "pothole" in Old English, from a Proto-Germanic root.
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:
Mary noticed a breast dimple in early 2023.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
"That is a pimple on a dimple on an ant's left cheek compared to what we need in the world," Banga said.
From Reuters ● Sep. 26, 2023
Chances are, the photos will show the waves in his dark hair and the dimple that emerges when he smiles.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 17, 2022
She was light personified — golden brown eyes, dangly earrings, stars on her T-shirt, a dimple in one cheek.
From New York Times ● Jun. 3, 2022
The more massive the object that is sitting on the sheet, the more the sheet gets distorted, and the larger the dimple around that object.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
The hair got less curly, the dimples less squishy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Lorna described Chelsea's "big smile and dimples" and her "infectious laugh"
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Shaped like the human form and available in four body types, CTOAN’s designs feature rolls and butt dimples, top surgery scars, and stretch marks.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2025
Real glassware — my highball glass had dimples, which conveniently made it easier to grip in the dark — added a classy touch.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 2024
Aiden, on the other hand, had dimples and curly black hair.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
The engineer—who looks like he stepped out of central casting with his dimpled grin, 6’2” frame, striped shirt and Dickies denim overalls—has been known to shed a tear of his own.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Mr. Close, soft-spoken and warm with a dimpled smile, was raised in Collyweston, with family roots that go back 400 years here.
From New York Times ● May 26, 2024
Perched atop the joints is a dimpled silicone membrane.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 11, 2024
A missing or dimpled primer at the bottom of the cartridge is another trait of dummy rounds.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 20, 2024
When he pulls away, his bottom lip is pulled back and his chin is dimpled.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Unlike many other breast cancers, she said symptoms could include itching, tingling, pulling sensations, dimpling or changes to the skin rather than a distinct lump.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
When he looked under a microscope, he saw small suckers dimpling the rock.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 11, 2022
After setting the bread in your pan and dimpling your dough, drizzle the infused olive oil on top before baking.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2021
In the bowels of the jet, technicians have to remove multiple specialty fasteners on both sides of the inner fuselage skin, then install newly produced “shims” that fill out gaps and remove the structural dimpling.
From Reuters ● Feb. 25, 2021
She smiled, dimpling prettily, but the dark, humid eyes were full of yearning.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
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