wee

1 of 2

adjective

1
: very small : diminutive
2
: very early
wee hours of the morning

WEE

2 of 2

abbreviation

Examples of wee in a Sentence

Adjective He's just a wee lad.
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.
Adjective
Sometimes finding the comment section in the wee hours has been more challenging than the puzzle itself. Mark Cooper, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025 The wee beastie ends the season in Arthur’s body, ready to continue its freaky little business. Noel Murray, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025 The Physicians Advocacy Institute found that some 55% of physicians were employed by or affiliated with hospital systems in 2024, up from a wee 26% in 2012. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Sep. 2025 Indeed, the backstage energy at the spring 2026 shows brought a liveliness that went beyond the usual hubbub of getting ready while polishing off Pura Vida takeaway in the wee hours before showtime. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wee

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English we, from we, noun, little bit, from Old English wǣge weight; akin to Old English wegan to move, weigh — more at way

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wee was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wee. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

wee

adjective
1
: very small : tiny
2
: very early
the wee hours of the morning

Medical Definition

WEE

abbreviation
western equine encephalitis; western equine encephalomyelitis

More from Merriam-Webster on wee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!