wilt

\ wəlt, ˈwilt

Definition of wilt

(Entry 1 of 3)

archaic present tense second-person singular of will

wilt

verb

\ ˈwilt

wilted; wilting; wilts

Definition of wilt (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

1a : to lose turgor from lack of water the plants wilted in the heat

b : to become limp

2 : to grow weak or faint : languish

transitive verb

: to cause to wilt

wilt

noun

\ ˈwilt

Definition of wilt (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : an act or instance of wilting : the state of being wilted

2a : a disorder (such as a fungus disease) of plants marked by loss of turgidity in soft tissues with subsequent drooping and often shriveling

— called also wilt disease

b : polyhedrosis of caterpillars

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about wilt

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Synonyms for wilt

Synonyms: Verb

droop, flag, hang, loll, sag, swag

Examples of wilt in a Sentence

Verb

The hot weather wilted the plants. The crowd wilted in the heat. He wilted under the pressure.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

As for the festival, the annual bash had nearly wilted by the 1970s but was revived later in the decade. — R. Daniel Foster, latimes.com, "Your once-a-year shot to see a freakishly large wisteria vine," 16 Mar. 2018 Add the shallots and cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes, until softened, then stir in the beet greens and cook until wilted. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Gwyneth Paltrow’s Guide to a Healthy Sunday Brunch," 1 Feb. 2019 Anything with a high moisture content (grated Parmesan, lemon zest, fresh herbs) will wilt your crunchy corn like water on a Cheeto. — Melissa Clark, New York Times, "The Secret to Perfect Popcorn Is Already in Your Cupboard," 22 June 2018 All of the leaves above the lesions soon wilt and turn brown. — Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, "Once vincas succumb to fungus, that bed is dead to them," 22 June 2018 Cover for 1 to 2 minutes to wilt some more, then remove the lid and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until all the moisture has evaporated and the spinach has begun to dry out. — Yotam Ottolenghi, sacbee, "Salmon – want it easy, or want it epic?," 5 June 2018 If plants suddenly wilt, check for the squash vine borer feeding inside the stem. — Melinda Myers, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Start early to prevent or minimize squash bugs," 23 Feb. 2018 Add chard and ¼ tsp salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until leaves are wilted and just tender and darker in color, 4 to 6 minutes. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Swiss Chard and Beets," 7 Jan. 2019 Stir in kale and cabbage, and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. — Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, "The Most Satisfying Vegetable Soup," 28 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Fusarium wilt, also known as yellows, produces yellow leaves and stunted heads. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "Cabbage Is One Of The Easiest Vegetables To Grow In Your Garden," 24 May 2017 Some types are hosts for bacterial wilt disease, which is spread by cucumber beetles. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need to Know About Growing Crisp Cucumbers," 12 July 2018 They are filled with a savory-sweet mixture of sauteed apple, onion and kale, done just enough so the apple becomes tender, the onion mellows and the kale wilts a bit. — Ellie Krieger, The Seattle Times, "Big, juicy pork chops — stuffed and sauced with a flurry of fall flavors," 24 Sep. 2018 Bake until cheese melts and spinach wilts, about 5 minutes. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Spinach and Cheese Pita Pizzas with Tomato Salad," 16 Aug. 2018 Some types are hosts for bacterial wilt disease, which is spread by cucumber beetles. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need To Know About Growing Crisp Cucumbers," 19 May 2017 Don't confuse this disease with less-serious scurf, which creates small, round, dark spots on tuber surfaces but doesn't affect eating quality. Stem rot, or wilt, is a fungus that enters plants injured by insects, careless cultivation, or wind. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "How To Grow Perfect Sweet Potatoes In Your Backyard," 15 Mar. 2017 Fusarium wilt, a soilborne disease, is sometimes a problem in hot regions. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "Your Complete Guide To Growing Okra," 21 Feb. 2018 Their feeding can transmit wilt and mosaic viruses to your plants. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "How To Control Pesky Cucumber Beetles In Your Garden," 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wilt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.