whet

verb
UK: /wet/
US: /wet/

  1. To sharpen a knife or tool by rubbing it on a stone.

    1. He used a stone to whet the axe before chopping wood.
    2. Before the wood carving, the artist needed to whet his chisel's blade.

  2. To make something stronger or more effective.

    1. The challenge will whet their competitive edge.
    2. A good debate will whet the participants' intellectual capabilities.

  3. To excite or stimulate (someone's desire, interest, or appetite).

    1. The smell of food can whet your appetite.
    2. The preview was designed to whet viewers’ interest in the upcoming film.

Synonyms

sharpen edge arouse hone appetizer stimulate excite
whet noun

  1. Something that stimulates appetite or desire.

    1. The small appetizer was a delicious whet.
    2. That film trailer was a good whet for the full movie experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "whet" in English means: To sharpen a knife or tool by rubbing it on a stone., To make something stronger or more effective., To excite or stimulate (someone's desire, interest, or appetite)..

The phonetic transcription of "whet" is /wet/ in British English and /wet/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "whet": sharpen, edge, arouse, hone, appetizer, stimulate, excite.

Example usage of "whet": "He used a stone to whet the axe before chopping wood.". More examples on the page.