dedent

D2E1D2E1N1T1

verb

To outdent; to remove an indent from.

Scrabble 8

Meanings

dedent1

verbdedent (third-person singular simple present dedents, present participle dedenting, simple past and past participle dedented)

present singular third person dedents · participle present dedenting · participle past dedented · past dedented

  1. transitivecomputingTo outdent; to remove an indent from.

    If the body of the if statement, the failwith, was dedented four spaces and therefore lined up with the if keyword, the F# compiler would yield a warning.

    2009, Chris Smith, Programming F#, →ISBN, page 7
    2 more examples

    Dedent Region If there were any need to prove that Python was a programmer's tool, and not something written for anyone with the slightest grasp of the English language, instead of the Python language, this menu option would dissuade them from that belief. Really, who would call something dedent? ... Unlike the indenting command, dedenting (can this really be used as a verb?) a block can cause problems.

    2008, Matthew A. Telles, Python Power!: The Comprehensive Guide, →ISBN

    Items within a block structure are sequential code statements indented the same amount to indicate that they are related. The first line of code dedented (moved back a notch) after a block structure does not belong to the block structure.

    2016, Laura Tateosian, Python For ArcGIS, page 24
noundedent (plural dedents)

plural dedents

  1. transitivecomputingAn outdent.

dedent2

verbdedent (third-person singular simple present dedents, present participle dedenting, simple past and past participle dedented)

present singular third person dedents · participle present dedenting · participle past dedented · past dedented

  1. To remove a dent or dents from.

    In the drawing at the bottom of the page are shown the structural features of a dedenting machine as built by The Vol-U-Meter Company, Inc.

    1937, Compressed Air Magazine, volume 42, page 5230
    1 more example

    To sell at the “reconditioned” price ceiling, the used drum must be thoroughly cleaned, dedented, painted, fully repaired to insure that the drum is liquid tight, and be supplied with the necessary openings, closures and gaskets to make the drum fit for use as a shipping container.

    1945, The Bulletin of the National Association of Purchasing Agents, volume 16, page 12

dedent3

noundedent (plural dedents)

plural dedents

  1. alternativeAlternative form of detent.

    On being fired from the gun, the projectile travels at a high rotary speed and the dedent spring is compressed, so that the dedents, acting as virtually one piece, drop down into the dedent spring cavity.

    1917, Popular Science Monthly, volume 91, page 419
    1 more example

    Between each rod in the control cover body is an interlocking pin, which also rides in a dedent when one fork is shifted, the purpose being to lock the other rod and to prevent the meshing of more than one gear simultaneously.

    1945, Technical Manual, United States War Dept, page 133

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Origin

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

dedent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dedent

MLA

“dedent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dedent. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dedent,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dedent.

Source: dedent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.