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
Maddon believes Japan’s World Baseball Classic victory over the United States in March 2023 whetted Ohtani’s appetite for big-ticket wins. Sean Gregory, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024 In recent months, additional momentum has come from the tactical successes of the IDF, which have whetted the public’s appetite for more. Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
The authentic woven bamboo whets your appetite for what’s inside. Andrew Watman, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2024 The new Disney+ access t sports may also serve to whet consumer appetites for the launch of a new stand-alone ESPN streaming service that will provide nearly everything the sports-media giant offers, not just an array of content meant to complement its linear channels. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Dec. 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 17 Dec. 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
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