whet

1 of 2

verb

ˈ(h)wet 

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:

a

: goad, incitement

b

: appetizer

also : a drink of liquor

Synonyms

Verb

• edge
• grind
• hone
• sharpen
• stone
• strop

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

Verb

While majoring in psychology at University of Texas at Austin, Friedman formed his first band, the surf-rock parody group King Arthur & the Carrots, whetting his appetite for satirical music. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 June 2024

Those were just a few of the incredible edibles that whetted the appetites of and cooled off more than a thousand ticketholders roaming around downtown Detroit and nearby neighborhood restaurants Tuesday evening for a culinary feast benefiting a local charity. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 19 June 2024

Noun

And mere hours later, Netflix whet fans’ appetite with a particularly savory announcement: Chestnut is slated to face off against his archrival, Takeru Kobayashi, for the first time since 2009. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 13 June 2024

But in Germany, the conception of each foodstuff as a limited-time-only treat is seen not as inconvenient, but rather, as a way to whet appetites. —Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 1 June 2024

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

Phrases Containing whet

• saw-whet owl
• whet one's appetite

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