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
Synonyms
Examples of pet in a Sentence
Adjective
The mayor's pet project has been the construction of a new high school.
spent my free time on my pet project
Recent Examples on the Web
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2023
In an email exchange reviewed by The Times, the kennel sergeant, Nelson Gonzalez, said that Pickles had already had a rescue plea sent out and that he’d been featured as pet of the week by the Board of Supervisors.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2023
Paws and Pints Holiday Party at Atlas Brew Works
Bring your pets along and snap a Santa photo for the holiday card at this dog-friendly party at the brewery’s original Ivy City location.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
While dog lovers cherish their pets’ affection, their licks and nips can potentially spread harmful germs.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Over the years, the couple's pets have also included cats, frogs and even a mouse.
—Nasha Smith, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023
There’s still one thing kicking around in your head: your poor pet is sitting at home all alone right now.
—David Moses, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
These pets are valuable to them for a lot of reasons — purpose, hope, love.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
Though a pet is an invaluable member of your home, cleaning up after your pup or kitten can be a total nightmare.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2023
Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023
The drug is not available to pet owners yet, and the F.D.A. must still review the company’s safety and manufacturing data.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
For pet owners who are not sure if a plant poses potential harm, the ASPCA website posts lists of toxic and non-toxic plants.
—Amy McGorry, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2023
Plus, the polyester cover is easy to spot clean (or lint roll, to clean up pet hair) and comes off for machine washing.
—Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 25 Nov. 2023
From simple suckers like the Roborock’s Q5 Pro that will best pet hair, to the all-singing, all-mopping DreameBot L20 Ultra, the prices are falling as hard as these robots can suck up dirt.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 24 Nov. 2023
Pick up a spray mop for just $29 to get the house crystal clean before the holidays, along with a Hoover vacuum cleaner which is powerful enough to pick up all the dirt, debris, and pet hair littered across the floor.
—Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
Although the data are sparse, in one limited study from 1986 that surveyed pet owners, nearly 16 percent of cats reportedly fetched.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 22 Nov. 2023
The pet rescue organization Anti-Cruelty Society took to Facebook the following day, explaining that Elvis was brought to them as a stray with a fractured pelvis, which had since healed.
—Cathy Free, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
Chiara Dello Joio, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2023
Cordelia and her younger sister Lily had stopped to pet a dog when the incident occurred, WISN-TV reported.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023
For starters, cowboys and cowgirls can try their hand at horseback riding, trap and skeet shooting, golfing, visit the petting farm, head out on a hike, or experience the Kicco wildlife on a hayride.
—Anna Mahan, Country Living, 10 Sep. 2023
The boldest cats entered huts and perhaps allowed themselves to be petted – kittens are adorable! – and, voilà, the domestic cat was born.
—Jonathan Losos, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023
People were picking up the alligator, petting it, all sorts of stuff.
—Sam Burros, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023
There are oversized portraits, with names and dates of birth and death on the battlefield — young and old, men and women, pictured in combat gear and civilian clothes, dangling a grenade or petting a puppy.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023
There are indeed two horses in the back, brought by the local cowboy collective Broken Arrow Riding Club, ready to be petted on their muzzles by fawning kids.
—Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Pitchfork, 18 Sep. 2023
The dog greeted strangers who wanted to pet him with affection, and never barked.
—Paige Eichkorn, Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
Best Cyber Week Laptop Deals Best gifts for women 2023
Best gifts for men 2023
22 best gifts for kids
Best gifts for pets
Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2023
In an email exchange reviewed by The Times, the kennel sergeant, Nelson Gonzalez, said that Pickles had already had a rescue plea sent out and that he’d been featured as pet of the week by the Board of Supervisors.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2023
Paws and Pints Holiday Party at Atlas Brew Works
Bring your pets along and snap a Santa photo for the holiday card at this dog-friendly party at the brewery’s original Ivy City location.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
While dog lovers cherish their pets’ affection, their licks and nips can potentially spread harmful germs.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Over the years, the couple's pets have also included cats, frogs and even a mouse.
—Nasha Smith, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023
There’s still one thing kicking around in your head: your poor pet is sitting at home all alone right now.
—David Moses, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
These pets are valuable to them for a lot of reasons — purpose, hope, love.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
Though a pet is an invaluable member of your home, cleaning up after your pup or kitten can be a total nightmare.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Other pet owners are also showcased enjoying everyday moments with their animals.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023
The drug is not available to pet owners yet, and the F.D.A. must still review the company’s safety and manufacturing data.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
For pet owners who are not sure if a plant poses potential harm, the ASPCA website posts lists of toxic and non-toxic plants.
—Amy McGorry, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2023
Plus, the polyester cover is easy to spot clean (or lint roll, to clean up pet hair) and comes off for machine washing.
—Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 25 Nov. 2023
From simple suckers like the Roborock’s Q5 Pro that will best pet hair, to the all-singing, all-mopping DreameBot L20 Ultra, the prices are falling as hard as these robots can suck up dirt.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 24 Nov. 2023
Pick up a spray mop for just $29 to get the house crystal clean before the holidays, along with a Hoover vacuum cleaner which is powerful enough to pick up all the dirt, debris, and pet hair littered across the floor.
—Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
Although the data are sparse, in one limited study from 1986 that surveyed pet owners, nearly 16 percent of cats reportedly fetched.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 22 Nov. 2023
The pet rescue organization Anti-Cruelty Society took to Facebook the following day, explaining that Elvis was brought to them as a stray with a fractured pelvis, which had since healed.
—Cathy Free, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
Verb
When two excited little girls came over to pet them, the dogs’ owner—John Mendola, a retired police officer—made pleasant small talk with the girls’ parents.
—Chiara Dello Joio, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2023
Cordelia and her younger sister Lily had stopped to pet a dog when the incident occurred, WISN-TV reported.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023
For starters, cowboys and cowgirls can try their hand at horseback riding, trap and skeet shooting, golfing, visit the petting farm, head out on a hike, or experience the Kicco wildlife on a hayride.
—Anna Mahan, Country Living, 10 Sep. 2023
The boldest cats entered huts and perhaps allowed themselves to be petted – kittens are adorable! – and, voilà, the domestic cat was born.
—Jonathan Losos, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023
People were picking up the alligator, petting it, all sorts of stuff.
—Sam Burros, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023
There are oversized portraits, with names and dates of birth and death on the battlefield — young and old, men and women, pictured in combat gear and civilian clothes, dangling a grenade or petting a puppy.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023
There are indeed two horses in the back, brought by the local cowboy collective Broken Arrow Riding Club, ready to be petted on their muzzles by fawning kids.
—Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Pitchfork, 18 Sep. 2023
The dog greeted strangers who wanted to pet him with affection, and never barked.
—Paige Eichkorn, Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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)
1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
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
Dictionary Entries Near pet
Cite this Entry
“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pet. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
Medical Definition
PET
abbreviation
positron-emission tomography
More from Merriam-Webster on pet
Nglish: Translation of pet for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pet for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pet
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share