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
The boycott on Target was planned to run alongside Lent, for 40 days. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 Since March 5, Ash Wednesday, Black congregations around the nation have stopped patronizing Target for Lent. Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2025 Sources: New Mobility, KERA News Carnival is becoming more sustainable In Brazil this past February, the Ministry of Tourism expected 53 million participants for the world’s largest Carnival celebration, the beloved festival before the season of Lent that also results in tons of waste. Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr. 2025 Easter Sunday, an important day for members of the Christian faith, commemorates the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ after a 40-day season of prayer known as Lent. Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 20 Apr. 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 29 Apr. 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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