weaned; weaning; weans
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.
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
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
Helen Hayesthe principles upon which he had been weaned—J. A. Michener
J. A. MichenerExamples of wean in a Sentence
The calves are weaned at an early age.
Recent Examples on the Web
From the outset, her plan is to release the animal back into nature once it’s weaned, and to give it as much freedom as possible in the meantime.
—Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Mar. 2025
In recent days, Germany's Friedrich Merz, the likely new chancellor, stated that Europe must wean itself off dependence on America.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Because of this, doctors also recommend that people who have been on the medication for longer periods of time gradually wean themselves off it under the guidance of a health care provider instead of quitting abruptly.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 3 Mar. 2025
French Deputy Foreign Minister Benjamin Haddad described Europe as being at a turning point, with the ground shifting rapidly under its feet, and said Europe must wean itself off its reliance on the United States for its security.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wean
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Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Mar. 2025
In recent days, Germany's Friedrich Merz, the likely new chancellor, stated that Europe must wean itself off dependence on America.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Because of this, doctors also recommend that people who have been on the medication for longer periods of time gradually wean themselves off it under the guidance of a health care provider instead of quitting abruptly.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 3 Mar. 2025
French Deputy Foreign Minister Benjamin Haddad described Europe as being at a turning point, with the ground shifting rapidly under its feet, and said Europe must wean itself off its reliance on the United States for its security.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wean
Cite this Entry
“Wean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wean. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wean
verb1
: 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 verb1
: 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
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