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whet

WET/ˈwɛt/

Verbwhets, whetting, whetted

Noun pluralwhets

Often confused with wet

5 meanings of whet

Practice

  1. 1
    stimulateverbtransitive
    To make a feeling like hunger, interest, or curiosity grow stronger.

    Like a small taste of food that makes you want the whole meal.

    A good preview can whet your interest in the show.

    The free sample whetted her appetite for more.

    UsageSay whet your appetite (not incorrect: wet).

    Similarexcite, stimulate, sharpen, rouse, kindle

    Oppositedampen, dull, blunt

    Note
  2. 2
    sharpenverbtransitive
    To make a blade or tool sharp by rubbing it on a stone.

    Like sharpening a pencil so the point becomes fine and pointed.

    He likes to whet his knife before carving the roast.

    She whetted the old axe until its edge gleamed.

    UsageSay whet a knife on a stone.

    Similarstrop, steel

    Oppositeblunt, dull

    Note
  3. 3
    act of sharpeningnouncountable
    One act of sharpening something, such as a knife rubbed on a stone.

    The blade needed one final whet before it was ready.

    A few quick whets on the stone brought back the edge.

    UsageSay give the knife a whet.

    Similarsharpening

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To clean and smooth feathers with the beak, as a bird does.
    Note
  2. 5
    nounarchaic
    Something that makes you more eager or ready, most often a small drink or bite of food before a meal.
    sips, drams, and whets
    1714, [Joseph Addison], “MONDAY, July 19, 1714”

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of whet apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English hwettan, meaning to sharpen or to urge on. It is related to German wetzen and Dutch wetten.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts