whet

1 of 2

verb

whetted; whetting

transitive verb

1
: to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (such as a stone)
whet a knife
2
: to make keen or more acute : excite, stimulate
whet the appetite
whetted her curiosity
whetter noun

whet

2 of 2

noun

1
dialect
a
: a spell of work done with a scythe between the time it is sharpened and the time it needs to be sharpened again
b
: time, while
2
: something that sharpens or makes keen:
b
: appetizer
also : a drink of liquor

Examples of whet in a Sentence

Verb We had some wine to whet our appetites. The ads are trying to whet booksellers' interest.
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.
Verb
The nimble British sports cars whetted the appetites of racers, and were just the beginning of the import wave that brought British, German, Italian, and French cars to America. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025 The Outdoor Life Girl recalls that dinner as an outstanding meal, and the hunting stories the two men told around the fire further whetted her appetite for deer hunting. Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
If last year whet your eclipse appetite, get excited for the night skies this month. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2025 In the meantime, the cup is serving to whet local appetites. Tom Williams, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whet

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English whetten, from Old English hwettan; akin to Old High German wezzen to whet, waz sharp

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whet was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whet. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

whet

verb
ˈhwet,
ˈwet
whetted; whetting
1
: to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (as a stone)
whet a knife
2
: to make keen : stimulate
whet the appetite

More from Merriam-Webster on whet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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