wheat

noun

ˈ(h)wēt 

often attributive

1

: a cereal grain that yields a fine white flour used chiefly in breads, baked goods (such as cakes and crackers), and pastas (such as macaroni or spaghetti), and is important in animal feeds

2

: any of various Old World annual grasses (genus Triticum, especially T. aestivum and T. turgidum) of wide climatic adaptability that are cultivated in most temperate areas for the wheat they yield

3

: a light yellow

Examples of wheat in a Sentence

a turkey sandwich on wheat

Recent Examples on the Web

Best for Thanksgiving Live stalks of millet, flax, and club wheat are accented with real pheasant leaves in this Thanksgiving-appropriate arrangement. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 28 Sep. 2026

One of two lists from the White House showed that China planned to trim duties on a variety of US agricultural goods including corn, wheat, sorghum, meat, dairy, vegetable oils and meals. — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

The Chinese list of US products that will be subject to lower tariffs covers 1,619 items, including corn, wheat, frozen meat, seafood, wood products, cosmetics and medical devices, according to a list published by the White House. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

Her hair was parted in the middle with the darker color ending just around her cheekbones, transitioning into a warm blonde blend of gold, honey, and wheat tones atop dark under layers. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English whete, going back to Old English hwǣte, going back to Germanic *hwaitja- (whence also Old Frisian wēt "wheat," Old Saxon hwēti, Middle Dutch weit, weite, Old High German hweizi, weizi, Old Icelandic hveiti, Gothic ƕaiteis "cereal grain"), collective derivative from the stem of *hwīta- white entry 1; probably so called from the light color of the ripe ears or the flour made from it

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wheat

• durum wheat
• hard wheat
• red wheat
• separate the wheat from the chaff
• shredded wheat
• soft wheat
• wheat berry
• wheat bread
• wheat cake
• wheat germ
• wheat rust
• whole wheat

Rhymes for wheat

• beat
• beet
• bleat
• cheat
• cleat
• creat
• deet
• eat
• feat
• feet
• fleet
• greet

Kids Definition

wheat

noun

ˈhwēt 

ˈwēt

1

: a cereal grain that can be made into a fine white flour used mostly in breads, baked goods (as cakes and crackers), and pastas (as macaroni or spaghetti) and that is used in animal feeds

2

: any of a genus of grasses grown in most temperate areas for the wheat they produce

especially : a grass with long dense flower spikes and white to dark red grains that is the chief source of wheat and is known only in cultivation