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# dent

noun (a dent, dents); verb (dent, dents, dented, denting)

«dent» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A small hollow made in a hard surface when something hits or presses it: «a dent in the car door». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#m1)
2. (verb) To make a dent in something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#m2)
3. A reduction: «make a dent in» means reduce something a bit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#m3)
4. (verb) To harm or weaken, such as someone's confidence or pride. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life cars, tins and bikes get dents. «Make a dent in your homework» means get some of it done. In stories a «dented pride» means a character feels hurt after losing. Phrases: «a dent in», «make a dent in», «put a dent in», «dent someone's confidence».

### Examples

- The ball left a dent in the car door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#x1)
- Don't buy the tin with the big dent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#x2)
- He dented his bike when he fell off. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#x3)
- We've barely made a dent in this huge pizza. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#x4)
- Losing the match dented their confidence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#x5)
- The savings made a big dent in the cost of the holiday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#x6)
- There's a dent in my water bottle from when I dropped it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/#x7)

### Note

Countable noun. Past «dented». Do not confuse with «dentist» or «dental» (about teeth); they come from a different root. In maths, «make a dent in 100 jobs» means do some, not all.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «dent» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dent/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«dent» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dent.html) on Mova free.