wetter; wettest
1
: covered or soaked with water or another liquid : not dry
a pile of wet clothes/towels/leaves
Be careful not to slip on the wet floor.
My hair is still wet.
My shoes got wet when I stepped in the puddle.
The grass was wet with dew.
His clothes were dripping/soaking/sopping wet. [=very wet]
(Brit) His clothes were wet through. [=completely/very wet]
2
: having a lot of rain : rainy
a cold, wet morning
wet climates
It has been a wet spring. [=it has rained a lot this spring]
3
of paint, plaster, etc.
: not yet dry : still moist or sticky
wet cement
Don't touch the paint. It's still wet.
4
US, informal
: allowing alcoholic beverages to be sold or drunk
a wet state/county
5
: soaked with urine
wet diapers
: wearing a diaper that is soaked with urine
The baby is wet.
6
British, informal + disapproving
: lacking strength and determination
The main character is so wet [=weak] that it's hard to feel sorry for him.
wets; wet or wetted; wetting
1
: to cause (something) to become wet
I wet/wetted a sponge under the faucet.
Avoid wetting the leaves when you water the plant.
The morning dew had wet/wetted his shoes.
—often + downIn the early evening, she wets down the grass with a hose.
2
: to make (a bed or your clothes) wet by urinating
The little boy accidentally wet his pants.
Our daughter was still wetting the bed. [=was still urinating while sleeping in bed]
I laughed so hard I almost wet myself.
plural wets
1
British, informal + disapproving
: a person who belongs to the Conservative Party and who has moderate or liberal ideas
2
: rainy weather : rain
We stayed out in the wet all afternoon.
Cite this Entry
“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/wet. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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