Kent

IPA/kˈɛnt/
KK[kˈɛnt]IPA/kˈɛnt/

Kent — noun

1. a county in southeastern England that borders the English Channel and the Strait

1.noun
Definition

a county in southeastern England that borders the English Channel and the Strait of Dover, known for its farmland, orchards, historic castles, and as the part of Britain closest to mainland Europe.

Example

The Watanabe family visited Dover Castle and Hever Castle during their holiday in Kent.

Kent is often called the Garden of England for its fruit farms and hop fields.

nicknamed 'the Garden of England'

Common collocations
  • in Kent
  • live in Kent
  • Kent County Council
  • Kent coastline
  • the county of Kent

Usage Note

Kent is one of the historic home counties surrounding London. In a UK context, 'Kent' almost always refers to this county rather than to towns in the United States.

Kent — noun

1. Rockwell Kent (1882–1971) was an American painter, illustrator, and writer. He b

1.noun
Definition

Rockwell Kent (1882–1971) was an American painter, illustrator, and writer. He became well known in the early 1900s for his bold black-and-white woodcut prints and landscape paintings of remote places such as Alaska and Greenland.

Example

The Morgan Library & Museum in New York held a major exhibition of Rockwell Kent's paintings last spring.

full name: Rockwell Kent

Rockwell Kent's illustrated edition of Moby-Dick is still admired by book collectors today.

Common collocations
  • Rockwell Kent
  • Kent's artwork
  • Kent's prints
  • paintings by Kent

Usage Note

When referring to the person, always use the full name 'Rockwell Kent' or the surname 'Kent' with sufficient context. 'Kent' alone may confuse readers into thinking of the English county.

Kent — noun

1. a city in northeastern Ohio, located on the Cuyahoga River and best known as the

1.noun
Definition

a city in northeastern Ohio, located on the Cuyahoga River and best known as the home of Kent State University.

Example

Nia moved to Kent, Ohio, to study graphic design at the state university there.

collocation: move to [city]

Musicians from across the Midwest travel to Kent, Ohio, each year for the annual folk festival there.

Common collocations
  • Kent, Ohio
  • Kent State University
  • downtown Kent
  • in Kent

Usage Note

When writing, include the state 'Ohio' after the first mention to avoid confusion with Kent, England or Kent, Washington. In US news contexts, 'Kent' alone usually refers to the Ohio city when paired with discussion of the university.

2. a city in western Washington state, located south of Seattle in the Green River

2.noun
Definition

a city in western Washington state, located south of Seattle in the Green River Valley, serving as a suburban hub for the greater Seattle area.

Example

Esteban commutes from Kent, Washington, to his office in downtown Seattle every morning.

collocation: commute from [city] to [city]

Last August, a warehouse club opened a new store just off the highway in Kent, Washington.

Common collocations
  • Kent, Washington
  • in Kent
  • city of Kent
  • Kent Valley

Usage Note

Always include 'Washington' when referring to this city, as 'Kent' alone is ambiguous between the English county, the Ohio city, and the Washington city. In the Pacific Northwest region, locals often say 'Kent' without the state name.

Word family

  • Kentish
    adjectiveB2
  • Kents
    noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Kent is the specific county name, while 'southeastern England' is a broader region covering multiple counties such as Surrey, East Sussex, and West Sussex. 'The Home Counties' refers to the counties surrounding London, of which Kent is one, but the term also includes Surrey, Hertfordshire, Essex, and others. 'The Garden of England' is a nickname for Kent alone, highlighting its agricultural tradition — especially its orchards and hop fields. In writing, use 'Kent' when you need a precise location; use 'southeastern England' for a general regional description; and use 'the Garden of England' only in descriptive or promotional contexts where the agricultural character is relevant.

Kent ↗the Garden of Englandthe Home Countiessoutheastern England

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the county of Kent
  • the city of Kent
  • Kent State University

Prepositions

Etymology

CelticLatinOld EnglishEnglish

The name Kent comes from the Cantii, a Celtic tribe that lived in the area when the Romans arrived in Britain around 55 BCE. The tribal name probably meant 'border people' or 'coastal people', referring to the region's position at the southeastern corner of Britain. After the Anglo-Saxon settlement, the area became the Kingdom of Kent, one of the seven kingdoms of the Heptarchy. The surname Kent and the American place names ultimately derive from this English county.