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Glite Dictionary
🕳️ A small hollow 🕳️ To make a hollow 📉 A reduction
to dent

to dent

27 2.2
To make a hollow in a surface by hitting or pressing it
  • verb
  • /dɛnt/
translation icon : abollar
  • You dented the hood of my car!

And if you start picking with your nail, you might dent or scratch your makeup or irritate your skin.

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Examples

  • As well, a support beam from the porch had been dislodged, denting the fender of our car.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • No, wait, you have a chance to dent it back in from the other side.

  • This is a quite soft cardboard, which is going to make it even easier to dent and push in.

    Molly Burke

  • Knocked over furniture and dented a wall before coming to rest under the table.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The rain crashed down, followed by hailstones so large they dented the automobile.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The two pieces had come apart, and the thinner, sharper blade was dented and scratched.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • He accidentally dented the door when he slammed it shut.

  • If you hit the car with a hammer, you might dent the metal.

  • Be careful not to dent the table when you put the heavy box on it.

Synonyms

to ding
vsto dent
8 3.8

To make a small dent in something, for example on a car or phone

creates a pressed hollow rather than only a surface scratch
to recess
vsto dent
6 7.4

To make a hollow in a surface so something fits inside

is a hollow caused by impact or pressure, not for fitting items
to dimple
vsto dent
5 4.1

To make a small rounded dip on a surface

creates hollows that can be larger or less rounded
to indent
vsto dent
1 3.4

To make a small dent in a surface by hitting or pressing it

forms a hollow from hitting or pressing on any surface, not cutting
to doke
vsto dent
  • UK
1 9.9

To make a small dent or bump in something by hitting it lightly

can be formed intentionally or by stronger blows, not only accidental

Antonyms

smooth
1 5.8

An act of making a surface even by rubbing or pressing

Idioms

to make a dent
14 4.0

To reduce an amount like cost or work in an obvious way

Phrasal Verbs

to fix the dent
1 2.8

Repair a small inward bend in metal, for example a car door

Compounds

dent corn
  • Specialized
7.0

A type of corn with kernels that have a small dent at the top

How Deep

to pierce
110 3.5
to gouge
20 7.2
to dent
27 2.2
nick
200 3.6
to scratch
161 1.1

Surface Forms

dent infinitive
dented past
dented past participle
denting present participle
dents third person singular

Etymology

The verb dent comes from the same Latin root dens ('tooth') and is the idea you also see in dentist. To dent something is like making a 'tooth' mark in it by hitting or pressing it, so it means to make a hollow or depression.