pet

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈpet 

1

: a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility

2

a

: a pampered and usually spoiled child

b

: a person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : darling

pet

2 of 8

adjective

1

: kept or treated as a pet

2

: expressing fondness or endearment

a pet name

3

: favorite

a pet project

pet

3 of 8

verb (1)

petted; petting

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing : neck

petter noun

pet

4 of 8

noun (2)

dated

: a fit of peevishness, sulkiness, or anger

resigned in a pet

pet

5 of 8

verb (2)

petted; petting

intransitive verb

: to take offense : sulk

pet

6 of 8

abbreviation (1)

petroleum

Pet

7 of 8

abbreviation (2)

Peter

PET

8 of 8

abbreviation (3)

positron-emission tomography

Synonyms of pet

Noun (1)

• favorite
• darling

Adjective

• beloved
• loved
• cherished
• favorite
• precious
• special
• darling
• sweet

Verb (1)

• pat
• stroke
• caress

Noun (2)

• pouts
• dumps
• blues
• irritableness

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

Noun

Additionally, strawberries are non-toxic to pets like cats and dogs. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026

Get a Pet People with dogs and cats probably don’t need convincing of the benefits of owning a pet. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026

Adjective

In one scheme, insurers try to attract seniors — especially healthy ones with lower costs — to higher-cost plans with unnecessary benefits like ski passes, pet food, and golf clubs. —Robert Romano, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026

Snoopy is Charlie Brown’s pet beagle. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026

Verb

Petkit plans to offer the Yumshare Daily Feast to pet food companies as a wet food serving platform instead of selling it directly to consumers, and each company will set the pricing of the machine and meal refills. —Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 2 Jan. 2026

Additional videos and photos showed her children taking turns petting Laila and holding her. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps back-formation from Middle English pety small — more at petty

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1629, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1581, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1629, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pet

• family pet
• in a pet
• pet hate
• pet name
• pet peeve
• teacher's pet

Rhymes for pet

• bet
• brett
• debt
• et
• fret
• get
• jet
• let
• lett
• met
• net
• nett

Kids Definition

pet

1 of 4 noun

ˈpet 

1

: someone given special treatment or consideration

teacher's pet

2

: a tame animal kept for pleasure rather than for use

pet

2 of 4 adjective

1

: kept or treated as a pet

a pet rabbit

2

: showing fondness

a pet name

3

: favorite entry 2

my pet project

pet

3 of 4 verb

petted; petting

1

: fondle, caress

2

: to treat as a pet : pamper

3

: to engage in embracing, caressing, and kissing

pet

4 of 4 noun

: a spell of sulkiness or anger

Medical Definition

PET

abbreviation

positron-emission tomography