1
a
: a pampered and usually spoiled child
b
: a person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : darling
2
: a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility
1
: kept or treated as a pet
2
: expressing fondness or endearment
a pet name
3
: favorite
a pet project
petted; petting
1
a
: to treat as a pet
b
: to stroke in a gentle or loving manner
2
: to treat with unusual kindness and consideration : pamper
: to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing : neck
petter
noun
: a fit of peevishness, sulkiness, or anger
—usually used in the phrase in a pet
resigned in a pet
petroleum
Peter
positron-emission tomography
Synonyms
Examples of pet in a Sentence
Adjective
The mayor's pet project has been the construction of a new high school.
spent my free time on my pet project
Recent Examples on the Web
Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Note: This pet might have been adopted before publication.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Dog owners should maintain frequent grooming to ensure their pet remains in good health, said Pound Pals Downriver Director Thomas Abraham.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Some expert tips include choosing a mattress that is large enough for you and your pets, washing and changing your bedding regularly, and establishing and maintaining a consistent bedtime routine with your pets.
—Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Those interested in adopting one of the pups when the pets are ready can submit an application for adoption on the rescue's website, where animal lovers can also donate to the puppies' care.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
This is especially prevalent in pets that have been fostered or adopted within the county over the past two weeks, the agency added.
—The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024
Sheriff's deputies seized 18 dead frozen puppies Friday from a home in rural Oregon that investigators believe were used to feed the homeowner's pet snakes, authorities said.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024
Most had at least one name for a favorite toy, including one pet that understood four distinct words for different toys in the experiment.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
Hesitancy around vaccines has spilled over to pet owners in recent years, sparking concern about the resurgence of rabies, a virus that's nearly always fatal.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Here’s to the week ahead, and don’t hesitate to reach out with comments, questions, feedback, and pet tech IPOs.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024
In one video, Beckinsale’s pet dog was captured jumping around excitedly on a bed as she was joined by another Pomeranian.
—Staff Author, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Try this suite of pet projects where your pet is the star, including C-BARQ (for dogs), Fe-BARQ (for cats), Dog Life Experience Study or Darwin’s Ark (dogs and cats).
—Bob Hirshon, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Last year, the same lab presented research on pet parrots engaging in video calls with other birds.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
The best way to keep coyotes away from your property is to make sure there’s no food and water sources on your property, including outdoor pet food, officials said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 28 Mar. 2024
The upright vacuum is equipped with strong suction to lift up dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and other debris.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
But even if it had been renewed, Cavallaro had already violated rules for keeping animals classified as dangerous by letting other people pet the alligator and even get in the pool with him, the department said.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Participants may pet the snake at the end of the program.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024
In addition, the Easter Bunny will be attendance to visit with kiddies and distribute treats, and a petting farm will include baby chicks, baby goats and ducks.
—Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024
Extremely social and outgoing, petting time is his favorite part of the day, closely followed by time to eat, play and nap (not necessarily in that order).
—The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024
Both 17-year-old girls have seen videos of feline judges — often petting spines and examining facial structures — and wanted to experience it first-hand.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2024
Even if that looks like sitting on the kitchen floor petting a sleeping puppy together after finishing the dishes last night.
—Kara Nesvig, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024
But there’s a kind of poetic magic to the constant appearance here of wandering kitties, some of them getting scarcely a glance from Lia and Achi and others being tenderly petted.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024
Noun
But the carrier prohibits carry-on pets on transatlantic and transpacific flights.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Note: This pet might have been adopted before publication.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Dog owners should maintain frequent grooming to ensure their pet remains in good health, said Pound Pals Downriver Director Thomas Abraham.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Some expert tips include choosing a mattress that is large enough for you and your pets, washing and changing your bedding regularly, and establishing and maintaining a consistent bedtime routine with your pets.
—Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Those interested in adopting one of the pups when the pets are ready can submit an application for adoption on the rescue's website, where animal lovers can also donate to the puppies' care.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
This is especially prevalent in pets that have been fostered or adopted within the county over the past two weeks, the agency added.
—The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024
Sheriff's deputies seized 18 dead frozen puppies Friday from a home in rural Oregon that investigators believe were used to feed the homeowner's pet snakes, authorities said.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024
Most had at least one name for a favorite toy, including one pet that understood four distinct words for different toys in the experiment.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The company also has brands in other categories, like Folgers Coffee, and in the pet sector, Milkbone and Meow Mix.
—Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
Hesitancy around vaccines has spilled over to pet owners in recent years, sparking concern about the resurgence of rabies, a virus that's nearly always fatal.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Here’s to the week ahead, and don’t hesitate to reach out with comments, questions, feedback, and pet tech IPOs.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024
In one video, Beckinsale’s pet dog was captured jumping around excitedly on a bed as she was joined by another Pomeranian.
—Staff Author, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Try this suite of pet projects where your pet is the star, including C-BARQ (for dogs), Fe-BARQ (for cats), Dog Life Experience Study or Darwin’s Ark (dogs and cats).
—Bob Hirshon, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Last year, the same lab presented research on pet parrots engaging in video calls with other birds.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
The best way to keep coyotes away from your property is to make sure there’s no food and water sources on your property, including outdoor pet food, officials said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 28 Mar. 2024
The upright vacuum is equipped with strong suction to lift up dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and other debris.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
In one photo, Holland reaches out to pet a horse from the safety of mom's arms.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
But even if it had been renewed, Cavallaro had already violated rules for keeping animals classified as dangerous by letting other people pet the alligator and even get in the pool with him, the department said.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Participants may pet the snake at the end of the program.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024
In addition, the Easter Bunny will be attendance to visit with kiddies and distribute treats, and a petting farm will include baby chicks, baby goats and ducks.
—Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024
Extremely social and outgoing, petting time is his favorite part of the day, closely followed by time to eat, play and nap (not necessarily in that order).
—The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024
Both 17-year-old girls have seen videos of feline judges — often petting spines and examining facial structures — and wanted to experience it first-hand.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2024
Even if that looks like sitting on the kitchen floor petting a sleeping puppy together after finishing the dishes last night.
—Kara Nesvig, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024
But there’s a kind of poetic magic to the constant appearance here of wandering kitties, some of them getting scarcely a glance from Lia and Achi and others being tenderly petted.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
perhaps back-formation from Middle English pety small — more at petty
Noun (2)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1629, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
1581, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
1629, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing pet
Dictionary Entries Near pet
Cite this Entry
“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pet. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
pet
1 of 4 noun1
: someone given special treatment or consideration
teacher's pet
2
: a tame animal kept for pleasure rather than for use
pet
2 of 4 adjective1
: kept or treated as a pet
a pet rabbit
2
: showing fondness
a pet name
3
: favorite entry 2
my pet project
pet
4 of 4 noun
: a spell of sulkiness or anger
Medical Definition
PET
abbreviation
positron-emission tomography
More from Merriam-Webster on pet
Nglish: Translation of pet for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pet for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pet
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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