1
a
: a pampered and usually spoiled child
b
: a person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : darling
2
: a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility
1
: kept or treated as a pet
2
: expressing fondness or endearment
a pet name
3
: favorite
a pet project
petted; petting
1
a
: to treat as a pet
b
: to stroke in a gentle or loving manner
2
: to treat with unusual kindness and consideration : pamper
: to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing : neck
petter
noun
: a fit of peevishness, sulkiness, or anger
—usually used in the phrase in a pet
resigned in a pet
petroleum
Peter
positron-emission tomography
Examples of pet in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the teacher's pet was always getting special privileges
Adjective
The mayor's pet project has been the construction of a new high school.
spent my free time on my pet project
Verb (1)
a cat who loves to be petted
Noun (2)
the teenager stalked off in a pet after being refused permission to go the movies
Recent Examples on the Web
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025
Child and pet safety: Never leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles, especially when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Jensen says her most unusual request was to design a pet elevator for a senior dog.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2025
Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Bison snaps at Yellowstone tourist who got too close
A Yellowstone tourist was nearly gored by a bison earlier this month after trying to pet it.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pet
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
When purchasing water for your family, purchase extra water to have for your pets to drink, and keep a set of food and water bowls in the room for feeding times.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025
Child and pet safety: Never leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles, especially when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2025
Adjective
A week filled with fun videos of puppies trying to master the stairs and a friendly doggy neighbor making his rounds brightened our social media timelines, but a few of our readers' pet videos and pictures stood out.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Jensen says her most unusual request was to design a pet elevator for a senior dog.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2025
Verb
After players feed Toothless enough digital fish, their avatars reach out to pet the dragon, mimicking the clip from the Universal Pictures movie — a remake of the DreamWorks Animation box office hit.
—Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Bison snaps at Yellowstone tourist who got too close
A Yellowstone tourist was nearly gored by a bison earlier this month after trying to pet it.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pet
Cite this Entry
“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pet. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pet
1 of 4 noun1
: someone given special treatment or consideration
teacher's pet
2
: a tame animal kept for pleasure rather than for use
pet
2 of 4 adjective1
: kept or treated as a pet
a pet rabbit
2
: showing fondness
a pet name
3
: favorite entry 2
my pet project
pet
4 of 4 noun
: a spell of sulkiness or anger
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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