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
Noun (1)
the teacher's pet was always getting special privileges
Adjective
The mayor's pet project has been the construction of a new high school.
spent my free time on my pet project
Verb (1)
a cat who loves to be petted
Noun (2)
the teenager stalked off in a pet after being refused permission to go the movies
Recent Examples on the Web
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Once Izzy was home, the pet Abbi Schaeffer was inseparable from was acting odd.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2025
Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
For businesses, investing in feline health research and innovations is not only a way to make a difference but also a means to tap into a global community of passionate pet owners.
—Jackie (ott) Jaakola, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2024
Officers gently pet the creature and one officer offered a hand to its snout for a quick sniff.
—Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pet 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Several wildfires are continuing to rapidly spread across Los Angeles County, not only displacing thousands of people as well as the pets and wildlife that also call Southern California home.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Once Izzy was home, the pet Abbi Schaeffer was inseparable from was acting odd.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Both pet owners liked the idea of clean air, open spaces.
—Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
For businesses, investing in feline health research and innovations is not only a way to make a difference but also a means to tap into a global community of passionate pet owners.
—Jackie (ott) Jaakola, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
My older son spent several hours feeding and petting the horses at the stable and painting a wooden mask like the ones on the property’s walls.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2024
Officers gently pet the creature and one officer offered a hand to its snout for a quick sniff.
—Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pet
Dictionary Entries Near pet
Cite this Entry
“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pet. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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