First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1wet
adjective \ˈwet\
: covered or soaked with water or another liquid : not dry
: having a lot of rain
of paint, plaster, etc. : not yet dry : still moist or sticky
wet·terwet·test
Full Definition of WET
1
a : consisting of, containing, covered with, or soaked with liquid (as water) b of natural gas : containing appreciable quantities of readily condensable hydrocarbons
2
: rainy <wet weather>
3
: still moist enough to smudge or smear <wet paint>
4
a : drunk 1a <a wet driver> b : having or advocating a policy permitting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages <a wet county> <a wet candidate>
5
: preserved in liquid
6
: employing or done by means of or in the presence of water or other liquid <wet extraction of copper>
7
: overly sentimental
8
British a : lacking strength of character : weak, spineless b : belonging to the moderate or liberal wing of the Conservative party
— wet·ly adverb
— wet·ness noun
— all wet
: completely wrong : in error
— wet behind the ears
See wet defined for English-language learners
See wet defined for kids
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Origin of WET
Middle English, partly from past participle of weten to wet & partly from Old English wǣt wet; akin to Old Norse vātr wet, Old English wæter water
Related to WET
Synonym Discussion of WET
wet, damp, dank, moist, humid mean covered or more or less soaked with liquid. wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (as paint) not yet dry <slipped on the wet pavement>. damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture <clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place>. dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness <a prisoner in a cold, dank cell>. moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry <treat the injury with moist heat>. humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air <a hot, humid climate>.
2wet
noun
: a person who belongs to the Conservative Party and who has moderate or liberal ideas
the wet : rainy weather
Full Definition of WET
2
: rainy weather : rain
3
: an advocate of a policy of permitting the sale of intoxicating liquors
4
British : one who is wet
See wet defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of WET
before 12th century
3wet
verb
: to cause (something) to become wet
: to make (a bed or your clothes) wet by urinating
wet or wet·tedwet·ting
Full Definition of WET
transitive verb
1
: to make wet
2
: to urinate in or on <wet his pants>
intransitive verb
1
: to become wet
See wet defined for English-language learners
Origin of WET
Middle English weten, from Old English wǣtan, from wǣt, adjective
First Known Use: before 12th century
WET Defined for Kids
1wet
adjective \ˈwet\
wet·terwet·test
Definition of WET for Kids
1
: containing, covered with, or soaked with liquid (as water) <a wet cloth>
2
: rainy <wet weather>
3
: not yet dry <wet paint>
— wet·ness noun
2wet
verb
wet or wet·tedwet·ting
Definition of WET for Kids
: to make wet <Wet the cloth before wiping.>
3wet
noun
Definition of WET for Kids
: rainy weather : rain
Medical Dictionary
wet
adjective \ˈwet\
Medical Definition of WET
: marked by the presence or abundance of fluid (as secretions or effusions) <the wet form of age-related macular degeneration>
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