wean

verb

ˈwēn 

weaned; weaning; weans

transitive verb

1

: to accustom (a young child or animal) to take food otherwise than by nursing

2

: to detach from a source of dependence

being weaned off the medication

wean the bears from human food

—Sports Illus.

also : to free from a usually unwholesome habit or interest

wean him off his excessive drinking

settling his soldiers on the land …  , weaning them from habits of violence

—Geoffrey Carnall

3

: to accustom to something from an early age

—used in the passive especially with on

students weaned on the Internet for research

I was weaned on greasepaint

—Helen Hayes

the principles upon which he had been weaned

—J. A. Michener

Examples of wean in a Sentence

The calves are weaned at an early age.

Recent Examples on the Web

Pups of all ages, from newborns to the fully weaned, lay dead or dying at the high-tide line. —Emily Anthes, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024

What is certain, though, is that these sea lions were either separated from their mothers or weaned too early, Warren said. —Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024

Decrease in estrogen: In the meantime, estrogen generally remains lower during breastfeeding and returns to pre-pregnancy levels after weaning. —Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 27 Feb. 2024

And most of Europe managed to wean itself off Russian gas. —Constant Méheut, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024

Just as American light crude barrels are keeping prices competitive in the oil demand centers of Asia, American LNG exports to Europe are proving equally pivotal in weaning the continent away from its politically disastrous and decades-old addiction to piped Russian gas. —Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

Baby opossums will stay with the mom until they are weaned after about four months. —Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024

Most babies are weaned from their moms within four months. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

The doggy dozen are currently relaxing together at APA until the puppies are weaned and ready for adoption. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wenen, from Old English wenian to accustom, wean; akin to Old English wunian to be used to — more at wont

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wean

• wean from/off
• wean on

Kids Definition

wean

verb

ˈwēn 

1

: to get a child or young animal used to food other than its mother's milk

2

: to turn (one) away from something long desired or followed

wean a person from a bad habit

Medical Definition

wean

transitive verb

ˈwēn 

1

: to accustom (as an infant or young child) to take food otherwise than by nursing

2

: to detach usually gradually from a cause of dependence or form of treatment