dent

UK: /ˈdɛnt/ US: /dɛnt/ ,(dent)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dent¹ /dɛnt/   n. [countable]

1. a depression in a surface, such as from a blow:
   a few dents on the fender.
2. a noticeable effect, esp. of reduction:
   a dent in one's pride.
3. slight progress:
   I haven't made a dent in this pile of work.

v. 

4. [ ~ + obj] to make a dent in or on:
   dented the front end of the car.
5. [no obj] to become dented:
   The car dents much too easily.
6. [ ~ + obj] to have the effect of reducing or slightly injuring:
   The sarcastic remark dented my ego.

-dent-, root. 

1. -dent- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "tooth.'' This meaning is found in such words as: dental, dentifrice, dentist, dentistry, denture.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dent¹  (dent), n. 

1. a hollow or depression in a surface, as from a blow.
2. a noticeable effect, esp. of reduction:
   to leave a dent in one's savings; a dent in one's pride.
3. Idioms 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.
4. Idioms 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.

v.t. 

5. to make a dent in or on;
   indent:
   The impact dented the car's fender.
6. to have the effect of reducing or slightly injuring:
   The caustic remark dented his ego.

v.i. 

7. to show dents;
   become indented:
   Tin dents more easily than steel.
8. to sink in, making a dent:
   Nails dent into metal.

• Middle English dente, variant of dint 1250–1300

dent²  (dent), n. 

1. Mechanical Engineering 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.

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

dent-, 

1. var. of denti- before a vowel:
   dentin.

dent., 

1. Dentistry dental.
2. Dentistry dentist.
3. Dentistry dentistry.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dent / 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

Etymology: 13th Century (in the sense: a stroke, blow): variant of dint

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

denti-, 

1. a combining form meaning "tooth,'' used in the formation of compound words:
   dentiform.

Also,[esp. before a vowel,] dent-. Cf. odonto-. 

• Latin, combining form of dēns, stem dent-; see tooth