[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/indent/)

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# indent

verb (indent, indents, indented, indenting); noun (an indent, indents)

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

## Everyday

1. To indent means to start a line of writing a little way in from the margin, as at the start of a new paragraph. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#m1)
2. An indent (or indentation) is that space at the start of a line. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#m2)
3. An indent can also be a small dent or notch in something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#m3)
4. (UK, business) An indent is an official order for goods. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#m4)

### In the lessons

In English lessons, indenting shows the start of a new paragraph in handwriting. In computing and coding, indenting lines with spaces or tabs shows how code is grouped; in Python indentation is part of the rules. In design, an indented coastline has many bays and inlets.

### Examples

- Indent the first line of each new paragraph. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#x1)
- The teacher reminded us to indent our paragraphs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#x2)
- In Python, you must indent the code inside a loop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#x3)
- Press Tab to make an indent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#x4)
- The coastline of Norway is deeply indented with fjords. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#x5)
- There was an indent in the car door where the trolley hit it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indent/#x6)

### Note

Noun stress: IN-dent; verb stress: in-DENT. The longer noun «indentation» is also common. Do not confuse with «dent», a hollow made by a hit.

## On Mova

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