1
: a depression or hollow made by a blow or by pressure
2
: an appreciable impression or effect often made against resistance
hasn't made a dent in the problem
specifically
: a weakening or lessening effect
costs that have made a dent in the budget
Synonyms
Examples of dent in a Sentence
Verb
I'm afraid I dented the wall pretty badly when I was hammering in that nail.
Many of the cans were badly dented.
Some types of metal dent more easily than others.
The team's confidence has been dented by a recent series of losses.
Noun (1)
there was a big dent in the car's hood where something had hit it
a little belt-tightening would at least make a small dent in our credit-card debt
Recent Examples on the Web
Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 13 Aug. 2024
Revenues in Europe fell 16.2 percent to 42.1 million euros, accounting for 30.4 percent of the total, dented by both distribution channels.
—Luisa Zargani, WWD, 1 Aug. 2024
Miles Socha, WWD, 12 Aug. 2024
The decision will likely put a dent in the valuation of some psychedelic start-ups, and bring on a wave of skeptical press.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dent 
Verb
The new set is promoted as the final studio album from the band, which first dented a Billboard chart in 1981 when Wild Gift reached No. 165 in June of that year on the Billboard 200.
—Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 13 Aug. 2024
Revenues in Europe fell 16.2 percent to 42.1 million euros, accounting for 30.4 percent of the total, dented by both distribution channels.
—Luisa Zargani, WWD, 1 Aug. 2024
Noun
In a research note June 29, HSBC flagged concerns that rising silver prices are putting a dent in margins, but downplayed that concern.
—Miles Socha, WWD, 12 Aug. 2024
The decision will likely put a dent in the valuation of some psychedelic start-ups, and bring on a wave of skeptical press.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near dent
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dent. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dent
1 of 2 verb1
: to make a dent in or on
2
: to become marked by a dent
dent
2 of 2 noun1
: a notch or hollow made by a blow or by pressure
2
a
: an impression or effect made usually against resistance
that purchase made a big dent in our savings
b
: noticeable progress
made a dent in our pile of work
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