Dent Meaning
/dɛnt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact.
nounA minor effect made upon something.
Sentence Examples
Stopgap measures won't make a dent in drug addiction.
They had a dent in the rear door.
CEFR Practice Quiz
A large hailstorm left a noticeable ____ on the roof of my car.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Stopgap measures won't make a ____ in drug addiction.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English dent, dente, dint (“a blow; strike; dent”), from Old English dynt (“blow, strike, the mark or noise of a blow”), from Proto-Germanic *duntiz (“a blow”). Akin to Old Norse dyntr (“dint”). Doublet of dint.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""Case Of You" (#67, 1980), a single on the Scotti Brothers label, was Frank's first chart dent."
— 1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, →ISBN, page 392:
"The transitoriness perhaps makes viral content the most representative form of culture in the twenty-first century: an era of vast quantities, deep specificity, and breakneck speed, where few individual artifacts, artworks, or conventions leave a dent in society or bend the curve of history."
— 2022, W. David Marx, chapter 10, in Status and Culture, Viking, →ISBN:
"Andy Carroll's first goals since his £35m move to Liverpool put a dent in Manchester City's Champions League hopes as they were emphatically swept aside at Anfield."
— 2011 April 11, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City”, in BBC Sport:
"Centering for a weaving width of 15 7/15", sley 2 ends per dent in a 15-dent reed, or centering for a width of 15 5/10", sley 3 ends per dent in a 10-dent reed."
— 2026, Shelby Moravec, “Flight of the Dragonflies Scarf”, in Handwoven, volume XLVII, number 1, page 28:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A large hailstorm left a noticeable ____ on the roof of my car.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Stopgap measures won't make a ____ in drug addiction.