wee

1 of 2

adjective

1
: very small : diminutive
2
: very early
wee hours of the morning

WEE

2 of 2

abbreviation

Examples of wee in a Sentence

Adjective He's just a wee lad.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
In the wee hours of the morning in the United States—but live in Osaka, Japan—IBF featherweight champion Angelo Leo (25-1, 12 KO) will defend his title against Tomoki Kameda (42-4, 23 KO) in the main event of a Pro Box TV card. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 Having just driven from Portland, Ore., to Seattle in the wee hours of the morning, Castro was contending with a central theme of her album in real time: the chasm between her dreams and the limits of her corporeal form. Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025 Da Nang Join dozens of locals swimming in the waters of My Khe Beach—or take in a game of beach volleyball—in the wee morning hours. Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025 Unlike other chefs of his talent and ambition, David Chang served his whole menu into the wee hours. New York Times, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wee

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English we, from we, noun, little bit, from Old English wǣge weight; akin to Old English wegan to move, weigh — more at way

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wee was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wee. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

wee

adjective
1
: very small : tiny
2
: very early
the wee hours of the morning

Medical Definition

WEE

abbreviation
western equine encephalitis; western equine encephalomyelitis

More from Merriam-Webster on wee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!