weaned; weaning; weans
1
: to accustom (a young child or animal) to take food otherwise than by nursing
2
: to detach from a source of dependence
being weaned off the medication
wean the bears from human food—
Sports Illus.
Sports Illus.
also
: to free from a usually unwholesome habit or interest
wean him off his excessive drinking
settling his soldiers on the land … , weaning them from habits of violence —Geoffrey Carnall
Geoffrey Carnall 3
: to accustom to something from an early age
—used in the passive especially with on
students weaned on the Internet for research
I was weaned on greasepaint—Helen Hayes
Helen Hayesthe principles upon which he had been weaned—J. A. Michener
J. A. MichenerExamples of wean in a Sentence
The calves are weaned at an early age.
Recent Examples on the Web
The podcast host is weaning big, black sunglasses while resting her head on Abrams’ shoulder.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Now 38 years old, the public assumption seems to be that Minnesota will continue to wean itself off Mike Conley during the 2025-26 season.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
However, the move is not going as planned with Hungary and Slovakia resisting attempts to wean their economies of Russian oil.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Despite the confident reassurances of my midwife that babies do not wean themselves, my daughter did.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wean
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Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Now 38 years old, the public assumption seems to be that Minnesota will continue to wean itself off Mike Conley during the 2025-26 season.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
However, the move is not going as planned with Hungary and Slovakia resisting attempts to wean their economies of Russian oil.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Despite the confident reassurances of my midwife that babies do not wean themselves, my daughter did.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wean
Cite this Entry
“Wean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wean. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wean
verb1
: to get a child or young animal used to food other than its mother's milk
2
: to turn (one) away from something long desired or followed
wean a person from a bad habit
Medical Definition
wean
transitive verb1
: to accustom (as an infant or young child) to take food otherwise than by nursing
2
: to detach usually gradually from a cause of dependence or form of treatment
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