wetter; wettest
1
a
: consisting of, containing, covered with, or soaked with liquid (such as water)
b
of natural gas
: containing appreciable quantities of readily condensable hydrocarbons
2
: rainy
wet weather
3
: still moist enough to smudge or smear
wet paint
4
a
: drunk sense 1a
a wet driver
b
: having or advocating a policy permitting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages
a wet county
a wet candidate
5
: preserved in liquid
6
: employing or done by means of or in the presence of water or other liquid
wet extraction of copper
7
: overly sentimental
wetly
adverb
wetness
noun
wet or wetted; wetting
Synonyms
Examples of wet in a Sentence
Adjective
a pile of wet clothes
Be careful not to slip on the wet floor.
My hair is still wet.
My shoes got wet when I stepped in the puddle.
The grass was wet with dew.
Don't touch the paint. It's still wet.
Noun
We stayed out in the wet all afternoon.
winced as he walked out into the wet without any protection
Verb
I wet a sponge under the faucet.
Avoid wetting the leaves when you water the plant.
The morning dew had wet his shoes.
The little boy accidentally wet his pants.
I laughed so hard I almost wet myself.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Made of sturdy, water-resistant leather, these practical ankle boots are great for chilly, wet weather and are versatile and comfortable enough to be worn every day.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
What's more, the outsoles are made of rubber, which keeps you from slipping on smooth or wet surfaces.
—Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
The storm’s strong winds were widespread and combined with at least 2 feet of heavy, wet snow in northern New England to cause more significant power outages there.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Though the long-term trend in the West is toward hotter and drier conditions, Los Angeles will still see bouts of severe storms and extreme wet years that will increase flood risk significantly, according to the state’s fourth climate change assessment.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The snow will be heavy and wet, the kind that brings down tree branches, and with them, power lines.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024
More than 95,000 people in Wisconsin are still without electricity as of Wednesday night after a winter storm brought heavy wet snow and strong winds throughout the state.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
And with much of the region still unstable or recovering from a particularly wet winter, Kittell said the additional rainfall could have significant effects.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
The painter, who shares a studio in Brooklyn’s Kensington neighborhood with his husband, the photographer Ian Lewandowski, strives to complete the majority of each work in one sitting, using a wet on wet process that results in a lush, loose aesthetic full of rich jewel tones.
—Coco Romack, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
But doing my yard work with the hat wet was a blessing.
—Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2023
The spa also offers a state-of-the-art wet therapy room, a dry sauna and a Chromotherapy Steam Room, a rejuvenating Halotherapy Salt Room, a whirlpool, a spa-specific outdoor pool, a fabulous brow and lash bar and a tranquil lounge space.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 14 May 2023
Dripping wet, Staats grabbed some tools and climbed atop SAM’s pressure controller.
—Jessica Camille Aguirre, Harper's Magazine, 11 Jan. 2022
The full wet also features a softer compound than the dry tires.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 2 Mar. 2023
For the actual hair, hairstylist Edward Lampley is creating a spectrum of wet-to-dry looks.
—Vogue, 12 Feb. 2023
But the heavy rains seemed to break for much of Southern California by noon, even offering a glimpse of sunshine after a wet and at times dangerous morning.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2023
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024
Simply wet a cloth with vinegar and then wipe the board.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Rim the serving glass with Tajin seasoning by wetting the rim and dipping it into the seasoning.
—Jeff Burkhart, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024
Also, be sure to wet the inside of the mold with a little water to prevent the rice from clinging to it.
—Hetal Vasavada, Bon Appétit, 18 Feb. 2024
This composter withstood rain, which didn’t get into the bin to wet the compost, as well as sunlight and temperatures in the 80s and 90s.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2024
After one child wet himself, the family lay for hours in a pool of urine.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023
The photographer took photos of Lasha and then Cosby asked her to wet her hair and put on a robe, the suit says.
—Gina Martinez, CBS News, 1 Feb. 2024
When the robot vacuum encounters carpets and rugs, the mopping pad gets lifted to avoid wetting your carpets.
—Chuong Nguyen, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2023
Adjective
The state has a vibrant tourism industry but low snowfall hurt the past ski season and a historically wet summer last year discouraged visitors as well, Moody’s says.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Made of sturdy, water-resistant leather, these practical ankle boots are great for chilly, wet weather and are versatile and comfortable enough to be worn every day.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
What's more, the outsoles are made of rubber, which keeps you from slipping on smooth or wet surfaces.
—Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
The storm’s strong winds were widespread and combined with at least 2 feet of heavy, wet snow in northern New England to cause more significant power outages there.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Though the long-term trend in the West is toward hotter and drier conditions, Los Angeles will still see bouts of severe storms and extreme wet years that will increase flood risk significantly, according to the state’s fourth climate change assessment.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The snow will be heavy and wet, the kind that brings down tree branches, and with them, power lines.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024
More than 95,000 people in Wisconsin are still without electricity as of Wednesday night after a winter storm brought heavy wet snow and strong winds throughout the state.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
And with much of the region still unstable or recovering from a particularly wet winter, Kittell said the additional rainfall could have significant effects.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
Escape to Film Forum and watch Alain Delon and Romy Schneider, dripping wet and lightly broiled by a Provençal sun, make out beside a swimming pool.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
The painter, who shares a studio in Brooklyn’s Kensington neighborhood with his husband, the photographer Ian Lewandowski, strives to complete the majority of each work in one sitting, using a wet on wet process that results in a lush, loose aesthetic full of rich jewel tones.
—Coco Romack, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
But doing my yard work with the hat wet was a blessing.
—Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2023
The spa also offers a state-of-the-art wet therapy room, a dry sauna and a Chromotherapy Steam Room, a rejuvenating Halotherapy Salt Room, a whirlpool, a spa-specific outdoor pool, a fabulous brow and lash bar and a tranquil lounge space.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 14 May 2023
Dripping wet, Staats grabbed some tools and climbed atop SAM’s pressure controller.
—Jessica Camille Aguirre, Harper's Magazine, 11 Jan. 2022
The full wet also features a softer compound than the dry tires.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 2 Mar. 2023
For the actual hair, hairstylist Edward Lampley is creating a spectrum of wet-to-dry looks.
—Vogue, 12 Feb. 2023
But the heavy rains seemed to break for much of Southern California by noon, even offering a glimpse of sunshine after a wet and at times dangerous morning.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2023
Verb
After, wet the stem cutting and dip the end of it into a rooting hormone, which encourages strong, uniform root development.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024
Simply wet a cloth with vinegar and then wipe the board.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Rim the serving glass with Tajin seasoning by wetting the rim and dipping it into the seasoning.
—Jeff Burkhart, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024
Also, be sure to wet the inside of the mold with a little water to prevent the rice from clinging to it.
—Hetal Vasavada, Bon Appétit, 18 Feb. 2024
This composter withstood rain, which didn’t get into the bin to wet the compost, as well as sunlight and temperatures in the 80s and 90s.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2024
After one child wet himself, the family lay for hours in a pool of urine.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023
The photographer took photos of Lasha and then Cosby asked her to wet her hair and put on a robe, the suit says.
—Gina Martinez, CBS News, 1 Feb. 2024
When the robot vacuum encounters carpets and rugs, the mopping pad gets lifted to avoid wetting your carpets.
—Chuong Nguyen, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wet
Cite this Entry
“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wet. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wet
2 of 3 nounwet
3 of 3 verb
wet or wetted; wetting
1
: to make or become wet
2
: to urinate in or on
wet his pants
Medical Definition
wet
adjective
: marked by the presence or abundance of fluid (as secretions or effusions)
the wet form of age-related macular degeneration
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