whet

1 of 2

verb

whetted; whetting

transitive verb

1
: to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (such as a stone)
whet a knife
2
: to make keen or more acute : excite, stimulate
whet the appetite
whetted her curiosity
whetter noun

whet

2 of 2

noun

1
dialect
a
: a spell of work done with a scythe between the time it is sharpened and the time it needs to be sharpened again
b
: time, while
2
: something that sharpens or makes keen:
b
: appetizer
also : a drink of liquor

Examples of whet in a Sentence

Verb We had some wine to whet our appetites. The ads are trying to whet booksellers' interest.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Special Spirits In every casino, almost anything goes (within reason) to whet the appetites of major players, from craps table pizza deliveries to the presentation $55,000+ bottle of 2016 Screaming Eagle at dinner. Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024 Any concessions or willingness to countenance his aggression has simply whetted his appetite to go further. Stephan Kieninger / Made By History, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Conway continued to press him, using a sports analogy to whet Trump’s competitive appetite. Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Oct. 2024 Should the halos in Sienese painting whet your appetite for expensive, shiny, metal stuff, the Brooklyn Museum has just the thing. The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for whet 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English whetten, from Old English hwettan; akin to Old High German wezzen to whet, waz sharp

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whet was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near whet

Cite this Entry

“Whet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whet. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

whet

verb
ˈhwet,
ˈwet
whetted; whetting
1
: to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (as a stone)
whet a knife
2
: to make keen : stimulate
whet the appetite

More from Merriam-Webster on whet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!