resent
Americanverb (used with object)
-
resents,
present (3rd person singular)
-
resented,
past participle, past
-
resenting
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
resentsimple
-
resentssimple
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have resentedperfect
-
has resentedperfect
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am resentingprogressive
-
are resentingprogressive
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is resentingprogressive
-
have been resentingperfect progressive
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has been resentingperfect progressive
Past
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resentedsimple
-
had resentedperfect
-
was resentingprogressive
-
were resentingprogressive
-
had been resentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of resent
First recorded in 1595–1605; from French ressentir “to feel (an emotion),” from Old French res(s)entir, equivalent to re- re- + sentir “to feel,” from Latin sentīre; see sense
Explanation
To resent something is to feel anger or bitterness toward it. You might resent someone who has treated you poorly. To resent is a strong, negative feeling. You may resent the accusation that you were stealing cookies, or when a teacher yelled at you for whispering, even though everyone else was too. You might resent a friend who has more money or friends than you. Lots of people resent celebrities because they're famous and wealthy. If your friend borrowed a sweater and didn’t return it, you would probably resent it. Resenting is the opposite of being grateful.
Vocabulary lists containing resent
The Diary of Anne Frank
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List 3
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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:
Some resent the banning of mobile phones or school days that last until 18:00.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Year: 2014 Compiled by: Forrest Wickman and Ellie Skrzat Of note: The rapper Birdman is ranked near the bottom, a fact that I personally resent.
From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026
I don’t resent my mother for getting older.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
Second, if she outlives him, I assume his children might resent her, since that could tie up a sizable portion of their inheritance.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 3, 2026
I tried not to resent the fact that my friends were all allowed to live in the country.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
Don’t miss: ‘I’d rather be on a beach in Bali’: My husband resents my $8 million net worth.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
Spending her Saturday not in uniform but in a T-shirt and jeans, she would like to enjoy a coffee outside -- and resents that her more religious compatriots think otherwise.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
He has been at the teaching job he resents and she has been frantically preparing for the dinner party she may not have told him about.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
"As she said in her own memoir, she resents that others defined her the first time around," Jellison told the BBC.
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026
Though in Werner’s weaker moments, he resents those same qualities in his sister.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
When Xi took office in 2012, many Uyghurs resented what they saw as mistreatment by Han transplants, such as discrimination in hiring.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
The King is portrayed as resentful, with a "senior courtier" reporting an alleged comment by the late Queen: "He even resented it when I taught him the alphabet."
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Real people became characters: Henry Kissinger seemed to enjoy it; Hunter S. Thompson resented it; Frank Sinatra threatened legal action; Donald Trump called Mr. Trudeau a “sleazeball” and a “third-rate talent.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Many community members also resented attempts by these organizations to work with local politicians who were criticized for their handling of the disaster.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
As much as Gaea had given him, he resented being kept in the dark.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
When someone agrees because they feel compelled—not because they genuinely thought about and committed to their choice—they may end up regretting their decision, resenting the asker, or even backing out of the agreement later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
“When you don’t plan for joy, you end up either overspending impulsively or depriving yourself and resenting your money plan.”
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 27, 2026
She’s still reeling from her father’s death while also resenting having to parent Robbie’s kids after his wife abandoned them.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2025
He said he fell into a deep depression and began resenting his first-generation status, blaming his Mexican immigrant parents for not better educating him on how to be a competitive college applicant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2024
It doesn't bother me what you do with him,' Kingshaw spoke furiously, resenting everything about the way Fielding was, with Hooper.
From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
