whet

1 of 2

verb

ˈ(h)wet 

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:

a

: goad, incitement

b

: appetizer

also : a drink of liquor

Synonyms

Verb

• edge
• grind
• hone
• sharpen
• stone
• strop

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

Verb

To whet your appetite, the streaming service has dropped 10 new photos for the upcoming fifth - and final - season. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Some Food-Themed Funnies Cartoons about fine, good, and excellent dining to whet your appetite. —The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

The authentic woven bamboo whets your appetite for what’s inside. —Andrew Watman, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2024

The new Disney+ access t sports may also serve to whet consumer appetites for the launch of a new stand-alone ESPN streaming service that will provide nearly everything the sports-media giant offers, not just an array of content meant to complement its linear channels. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing whet

• saw-whet owl
• whet one's appetite

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