whet

1 of 2

verb

whetted; whetting
Synonyms of whetnext

transitive verb

1
: to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (such as a stone)
whet a knife
2
: to make keen or more acute : excite, stimulate
whet the appetite
whetted her curiosity
whetter noun

whet

2 of 2

noun

1
dialect
a
: a spell of work done with a scythe between the time it is sharpened and the time it needs to be sharpened again
b
: time, while
2
: something that sharpens or makes keen:
b
: appetizer
also : a drink of liquor

Synonyms of whet

Examples of whet in a Sentence

Verb We had some wine to whet our appetites. The ads are trying to whet booksellers' interest.
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.
Verb
Jaresko said taking over any part of Ukraine will only whet Putin’s imperialist appetite. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026 Her lovely 2022 short film, Bus Girl, received a BAFTA nomination, and that seems to have whet her appetite for more filmmaking and less acting. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026 Green has asked Winzinger to conduct cooking demonstrations in class, hoping to whet students’ appetites with dishes like chicken mushroom Alfredo and mushroom soup. Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026 That type of performance might whet the appetites of public market investors, who have not seen many new issuances of technology companies with high growth rates. Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whet

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English whetten, from Old English hwettan; akin to Old High German wezzen to whet, waz sharp

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whet was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whet. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

whet

verb
ˈhwet
ˈwet
whetted; whetting
1
: to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (as a stone)
whet a knife
2
: to make keen : stimulate
whet the appetite

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