Meanings
dedent1
present singular third person dedents · participle present dedenting · participle past dedented · past dedented
- 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 72 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, →ISBNItems 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
dedent2
present singular third person dedents · participle present dedenting · participle past dedented · past dedented
- 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 52301 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
plural dedents
- 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 4191 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
Origin
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Cite this entry
dedent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dedent
“dedent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dedent. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dedent,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dedent.
Source: dedent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.