indent

[ verb in-dent; noun in-dent, in-dent ]

/ verb ɪnˈdɛnt; noun ˈɪn dɛnt, ɪnˈdɛnt /

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See synonyms for: indent / indented on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to form deep recesses in: The sea indents the coast.

to set in or back from the margin, as the first line of a paragraph.

to sever (a document drawn up in duplicate) along an irregular line as a means of identification.

to cut or tear the edge of (copies of a document) in an irregular way.

to make toothlike notches in; notch.

to indenture, as an apprentice.

British. to draw an order upon.

Chiefly British. to order, as commodities.

verb (used without object)

to form a recess.

Chiefly British. to make out an order or requisition in duplicate.

Obsolete.

to draw upon a person or thing for something.
to enter into an agreement by indenture; make a compact.

noun

a toothlike notch or deep recess; indentation.

an indention.

an indenture.

American History. a certificate issued by a state or the federal government at the close of the Revolutionary War for the principal or interest due on the public debt.

British. a requisition for stores.

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Origin of indent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; back formation from indented “having toothlike notches,” past participle of endenten, indenten “to notch, dent, indent,” from Middle French verb endenter and Medieval Latin indentātus, past participle of indentāre “to notch,” equivalent to Latin in- “in” + dent- stem of dens “tooth” + -āre infinitive ending;see origin at in-², dentate, -ed²

OTHER WORDS FROM indent

in·dent·er, in·den·tor, noun

Words nearby indent

indemnitee, indemnitor, indemnity, indemonstrable, indene, indent, indentation, indention, indenture, indentured, indentured servant

Other definitions for indent (2 of 2)

indent²

[ verb in-dent; noun in-dent, in-dent ]

/ verb ɪnˈdɛnt; noun ˈɪn dɛnt, ɪnˈdɛnt /

verb (used with object)

to dent; press in so as to form a dent: to indent a pattern on metal.

to make or form a dent in: The wooden stairs had been indented by horses' hooves.

noun

a dent.

Origin of indent

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; see origin at in-², dent¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use indent in a sentence

Basically, it’s a thumbprint cookie with the indent filled with poppy seeds.
Sticky, gooey, crunchy, chewy — 11 gluten-free cookie recipes to delight in this holiday season|Becky Krystal|December 17, 2020|Washington Post
The firths of Forth and Clyde indent the country very deeply on the east and west, almost dividing it into two parts.
Battles of English History|H. B. (Hereford Brooke) George
It encloses many large islands, and contains large bays and gulfs which deeply indent the northern shores of the three continents.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2|Various
Drop down a few more lines before you begin with the text, and indent about an inch for the beginning of each paragraph.
If You Don't Write Fiction|Charles Phelps Cushing

All stage directions have been uniformly formatted to a left uniform indent instead of a right page margin.
Yolanda of Cyprus|Cale Young Rice
Many a youth would think it hard to indent himself a slave for fourteen years.
Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution|L. Carroll Judson

British Dictionary definitions for indent (1 of 2)

indent¹

verb (ɪnˈdɛnt) (mainly tr)

to place (written or printed matter, etc) in from the margin, as at the beginning of a paragraph

to cut or tear (a document, esp a contract or deed in duplicate) so that the irregular lines may be matched to confirm its authenticity

mainly British (in foreign trade) to place an order for (foreign goods), usually through an agent

(when intr, foll by for, on, or upon) mainly British to make an order on (a source or supply) or for (something)

to notch (an edge, border, etc); make jagged

to bind (an apprentice, etc) by indenture

noun (ˈɪnˌdɛnt)

mainly British (in foreign trade) an order for foreign merchandise, esp one placed with an agent

mainly British an official order for goods

(in the late 18th-century US) a certificate issued by federal and state governments for the principal or interest due on the public debt

another word for indenture

another word for indentation (def. 4)

Derived forms of indent

indenter or indentor, noun

Word Origin for indent

C14: from Old French endenter, from en- 1 + dent tooth, from Latin dēns

British Dictionary definitions for indent (2 of 2)

indent²

verb (ɪnˈdɛnt)

(tr) to make a dent or depression in

noun (ˈɪnˌdɛnt)

a dent or depression

Word Origin for indent

C15: from in- ² + dent 1

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

indent

Origin of indent

OTHER WORDS FROM indent

Words nearby indent

Other definitions for indent (2 of 2)

Origin of indent

Words related to indent

How to use indent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for indent (1 of 2)

Derived forms of indent

Word Origin for indent

British Dictionary definitions for indent (2 of 2)

Word Origin for indent