denser; densest
1
a
: marked by compactness or crowding together of parts
dense vegetation
dense traffic
b
chemistry
: having a high mass (see mass entry 2 sense 1c) per unit volume (see volume entry 1 sense 2)
Carbon dioxide is a dense gas.
The cake was overly sweet and dense.
2
a
: slow to understand : stupid, thickheaded
was too dense to get the joke
b
: extreme
dense ignorance
3
mathematics
: having between any two elements at least one element
The set of rational numbers is dense.
4
: demanding concentration to follow or comprehend
dense prose
5
: having high or relatively high opacity (see opacity sense 2)
a dense fog
a dense photographic negative
densely
adverb
Examples of dense in a Sentence
They cut a path through the dense jungle.
a dense tangle of wires
a dense cluster of stars
That part of the city has a dense population of immigrants.
A dense mass of spectators filled the courtroom.
In the movie, she plays his kind but somewhat dense aunt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Courtesy of its super-dense filler (Styrofoam beans), this famous beanbag chair may be an investment, but its historic background is worth its high price tag.
—
Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2025
Spotting Lobular Breast Cancer Lobular breast cancer is also linked with dense breast tissue—a common feature among younger, premenopausal women.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Using these boundaries, the electrodes can be made five to 10 times thicker and twice as dense as conventional electrodes, significantly increasing energy density within a limited volume, according to a press release.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business's parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dense
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Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2025
Spotting Lobular Breast Cancer Lobular breast cancer is also linked with dense breast tissue—a common feature among younger, premenopausal women.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Using these boundaries, the electrodes can be made five to 10 times thicker and twice as dense as conventional electrodes, significantly increasing energy density within a limited volume, according to a press release.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business's parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dense
Cite this Entry
“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dense. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dense
adjective
denser; densest
1
a
: marked by closeness or crowding together of parts
a dense forest
b
: having a high mass per unit volume
lead is a very dense metal
2
: slow to understand : stupid sense 1a
3
: thick entry 1 sense 4
dense fog
4
: having between any two mathematical elements at least one element
the set of rational numbers is dense
densely
adverb
denseness
noun
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