wilt

noun

ˈwilt 

1

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

2

a

: 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

: a viral disease of caterpillars

Examples of wilt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mulching also prevents garden soil from splashing back onto your plants and is yet another way to lower the risk of blight, wilt, and leaf spot. —Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 9 June 2026

Watermelon plants are susceptible to a variety of diseases including anthracnose, fusarium wilt, gummy stem blight (also called black rot), and bacterial wilt. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 May 2026

Pineapple plants are primarily affected by mealybugs, scale insects, ants, and fruit flies, which can cause significant damage, reduce yields, and transmit diseases such as mealybug wilt. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 24 May 2026

Why Plants Wilt Reversing wilt begins with a basic understanding of what is going on in a plant when the leaves droop and the stems go limp. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wilt

• oak wilt
• verticillium wilt

Rhymes for wilt

• built
• gilt
• guilt
• hilt
• kilt
• lilt
• milt
• quilt
• silt
• spilt
• stilt
• tilt

Kids Definition

wilt

1 of 3

wəlt 

(ˈ)wilt

archaic present 2nd singular of will

wilt

2 of 3 verb

ˈwilt 

1

: to lose or cause to lose freshness and become limp : droop

wilting roses

2

: to grow weak or faint

was wilting after hours of dancing

wilt

3 of 3 noun

ˈwilt 

: a plant disease (as one caused by a fungus) marked by wilting of the soft parts of the plant