wilt

1 of 3

wəlt,

ˈwilt 

archaic present tense second-person singular of will

wilt

2 of 3

verb

ˈwilt 

wilted; wilting; wilts

intransitive verb

1

a

: to lose turgor from lack of water

the plants wilted in the heat

b

: to become limp

2

: to grow weak or faint : languish

transitive verb

: to cause to wilt

wilt

3 of 3

noun

ˈwilt 

1

: an act or instance of wilting : the state of being wilted

2

a

: a disorder (such as a fungus disease) of plants marked by loss of turgidity in soft tissues with subsequent drooping and often shriveling

called also wilt disease

b

: polyhedrosis of caterpillars

Synonyms

Verb

• droop
• hang
• sag

Examples of wilt in a Sentence

Verb

The hot weather wilted the plants.

The crowd wilted in the heat.

He wilted under the pressure.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Oregano thrives during summertime when cilantro is likely to wilt and bolt from hotter temperatures. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025

Into the mix are their best friends, lawyer Barry (Andy Samberg) and his wife Amy (Kate McKinnon), who mostly are observers of the wilting Roses but with just the right touch of sympathy and advice. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025

Noun

Between the draft capital invested in the trenches, an emphasis on the run game during the preseason opener against the Bears and a defense that appears hellbent on sending pressure, Miami no longer wanted to be the squad that can’t beat good teams or wilts in the cold. —Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025

This can cause stunted growth and leaf wilt. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of earlier welk, from Middle English welken, probably from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German erwelkēn to wilt

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1691, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wilt

• oak wilt
• verticillium wilt

Rhymes for wilt

• built
• gilt
• guilt
• hilt
• kilt
• lilt
• milt
• quilt
• silt
• spilt
• stilt
• tilt

Kids Definition

wilt

1 of 3

wəlt 

(ˈ)wilt

archaic present 2nd singular of will

wilt

2 of 3 verb

ˈwilt 

1

: to lose or cause to lose freshness and become limp : droop

wilting roses

2

: to grow weak or faint

was wilting after hours of dancing

wilt

3 of 3 noun

ˈwilt 

: a plant disease (as one caused by a fungus) marked by wilting of the soft parts of the plant