wilt

1 of 3

wəlt, 

ˈwilt 

archaic present tense second-person singular of will

wilt

2 of 3

verb

ˈwilt 

wilted; wilting; wilts

intransitive verb

1

a

: 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

3 of 3

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

Synonyms of wilt

Verb

• droop
• hang
• sag

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

Stir in spinach; cook until wilted, 2 minutes. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2026

What followed was an incessant attack on the senses as the Premier League champions wilted in the Rams Park cauldron. —James Pearce, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026

Noun

Thin out seedlings to prevent overcrowding and space basil plants 6 to 10 inches apart with 18 to 24 inches between rows to provide good air circulation and prevent diseases like downy mildew and fusarium wilt. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

Pepper plants are often targeted by flea beetles, which will chew holes in plant leaves and may transmit bacterial wilt. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of earlier welk, from Middle English welken, probably from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German erwelkēn to wilt

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1691, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

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