lent

1 of 2

past tense and past participle of lend

Lent

2 of 2

noun

: the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern, and some Protestant churches as a period of penitence and fasting

Examples of lent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Red is typically seen during Good Friday and feast days for martyrs, reports The Vicksburg Post, and purple is worn during Lent and Advent. Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 7 May 2025 Once Easter came and Lent ended, Alvarez offered to take her grandma to some new local spots for chocolate. Jordan Greene, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Softball Nicole Lent launched two home runs, and Ashleigh Lent doubled and homered as No. 6 Lincoln-Sudbury (18-5) defeated No. 3 King Philip 4-1 in a Div. 1 state quarterfinal matchup. Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 7 June 2025 Snails were classified as fish by the Catholic Church and could even be eaten during Lent. Garritt C. Van Dyk, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lent

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English lente springtime, Lent, from Old English lencten; akin to Old High German lenzin spring

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lent was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lent. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

Lent

noun
: a period of fasting and regret for one's sins that is observed on the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter by many churches
Lenten
ˈlent-ᵊn
adjective

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