: a device (such as a catch, dog, or spring-operated ball) for positioning and holding one mechanical part in relation to another in a manner such that the device can be released by force applied to one of the parts
Examples of detent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Most lenses with aperture rings shift the f-stop by a third stop with every detent click, but the 35mm F1.2 Lab is far less consistent.
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PC Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Automatic lane change: Not to be confused with hands-free driving, the MDX measures the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles when the driver holds the turn signal lightly — more than for a three-flash indication, not enough to trigger the detent for a full turn.
—Mark Phelan, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Push firmly past that point, that detent, and the gas engine flutters to life in milliseconds.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Automatic lane change: Not to be confused with hands-free driving, the MDX measures the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles when the driver holds the turn signal lightly — more than for a three-flash indication, not enough trigger the detent for a full turn.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 9 July 2024
The collar rotates a full 360 degrees but doesn't include detent stops.
—PCMAG, 20 May 2024
Among those are a function button, an AF/MF toggle switch, and an aperture ring that swaps between third-stop detents and silent continuous control via a switch.
—PCMAG, 16 Apr. 2024
These detents should also support the two sides of the Z Fold 6, reducing the strain between the two sides of the device.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
The collar is metal, tightens with a thumbscrew, and rotates freely without detent stops.
—PCMAG, 1 Feb. 2024
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PC Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Automatic lane change: Not to be confused with hands-free driving, the MDX measures the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles when the driver holds the turn signal lightly — more than for a three-flash indication, not enough to trigger the detent for a full turn.
—Mark Phelan, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Push firmly past that point, that detent, and the gas engine flutters to life in milliseconds.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Automatic lane change: Not to be confused with hands-free driving, the MDX measures the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles when the driver holds the turn signal lightly — more than for a three-flash indication, not enough trigger the detent for a full turn.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 9 July 2024
The collar rotates a full 360 degrees but doesn't include detent stops.
—PCMAG, 20 May 2024
Among those are a function button, an AF/MF toggle switch, and an aperture ring that swaps between third-stop detents and silent continuous control via a switch.
—PCMAG, 16 Apr. 2024
These detents should also support the two sides of the Z Fold 6, reducing the strain between the two sides of the device.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
The collar is metal, tightens with a thumbscrew, and rotates freely without detent stops.
—PCMAG, 1 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Detent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detent. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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