whetted; whetting
1
: to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (such as a stone)
whet a knife
whetter
noun
1
2
: something that sharpens or makes keen:
a
: goad, incitement
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
Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Any concessions or willingness to countenance his aggression has simply whetted his appetite to go further.
—Stephan Kieninger / Made By History, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Oct. 2024
Should the halos in Sienese painting whet your appetite for expensive, shiny, metal stuff, the Brooklyn Museum has just the thing.
—The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whet 
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
Special Spirits In every casino, almost anything goes (within reason) to whet the appetites of major players, from craps table pizza deliveries to the presentation $55,000+ bottle of 2016 Screaming Eagle at dinner.
—Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Any concessions or willingness to countenance his aggression has simply whetted his appetite to go further.
—Stephan Kieninger / Made By History, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Conway continued to press him, using a sports analogy to whet Trump’s competitive appetite.
—Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Oct. 2024
Should the halos in Sienese painting whet your appetite for expensive, shiny, metal stuff, the Brooklyn Museum has just the thing.
—The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whet
Dictionary Entries Near whet
Cite this Entry
“Whet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whet. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share