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
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
dated
: a fit of peevishness, sulkiness, or anger
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
Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Policy changes, such as expanding single-room Safe Havens, allowing couples and people with pets to stay together, and using hotel rooms for those who won’t enter congregate settings but will accept private, secure space, would help bring reluctant people indoors.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
There’s no better way to raise awareness for pet adoption than a playful, heartwarming — and just plain adorable — competition where everyone wins.
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
My son loves the fun parts of puppy parenting like snuggling, petting, playing, and running together.
—Angela Hatem, Parents, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pet
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Noun
In other cases, extremists have been convicted of manipulating children into cutting themselves or even killing pets on camera, records show.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Policy changes, such as expanding single-room Safe Havens, allowing couples and people with pets to stay together, and using hotel rooms for those who won’t enter congregate settings but will accept private, secure space, would help bring reluctant people indoors.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Companies quietly avoid conflict while seeking favor with ornate gifts, large donations to the president’s pet projects and strategic deployments of CEOs to the Oval Office.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
There’s no better way to raise awareness for pet adoption than a playful, heartwarming — and just plain adorable — competition where everyone wins.
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
The ones that perch on outdoor tables demanding to be petted.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
My son loves the fun parts of puppy parenting like snuggling, petting, playing, and running together.
—Angela Hatem, Parents, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pet
Cite this Entry
“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pet. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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
