Word
whet
US/ˈhwɛt/
UK/wˈɛt/
Definition
v. to make a knife or tool sharper, or to make hunger or interest stronger. You see it most when food or a story makes you want more.
v. to sharpen a blade or tool by grinding or friction; by extension, to stimulate appetite, interest, or desire.
Examples
“Good smells from the kitchen whet our appetite.”
“The trailer whets interest in the new film without giving away the ending.”
“The opening chapter whets the reader's curiosity with a half-told mystery that promises deeper revelations later.”
Examples
simple
“Good smells from the kitchen whet our appetite.”
contextual
“The trailer whets interest in the new film without giving away the ending.”
complex
“The opening chapter whets the reader's curiosity with a half-told mystery that promises deeper revelations later.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “whet” in context.
Verb
01. aroma whets
“The aroma whets the appetite before the first course arrives.”
noun + verb
02. story whets
“Her story whets interest in travelling alone across Japan.”
noun + verb
03. trailer whets
“The trailer whets curiosity without revealing the ending.”
noun + verb
04. whet appetite
“The smell of garlic bread did enough to whet our appetite.”
verb + noun
05. whet blade
“He stopped to whet the blade before cutting the branches.”
verb + noun
06. whet curiosity
“The opening chapter whets curiosity about the missing explorer.”
verb + noun
07. whet hunger
“A long hike in cold air never fails to whet hunger.”
verb + noun
Adjective
08. finely whet
“The carver worked with a finely whetted edge.”
adv + verb
09. freshly whet
“The butcher sliced easily with a freshly whetted blade.”
adv + verb
10. whet appetite for adventure
“Backpacking through Peru whetted her appetite for adventure.”
11. whet curiosity about something
“The museum exhibit whetted curiosity about ancient navigation.”
12. whet hunger for knowledge
“Great teachers know how to whet hunger for knowledge.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“If that whets your appetite, stick around, there’s plenty more to come.” “The American invasion of Iraq in 2003 set the path for Tehran to dominate its neighbor and whetted its appetite to expand its influence across the greater Middle East.” Etymology
From Middle English whetten, from Old English hwettan (“to whet, sharpen, incite, encourage”), from Proto-West Germanic hwattjan, from Proto-Germanic hwatjaną (“to incite, sharpen”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₁d- (“sharp”). Cognate with Dutch wetten (“to whet, sharpen”), German wetzen (“to whet, sharpen”), Icelandic hvetja (“to whet, encourage, catalyze”), dialectal Danish hvæde (“to whet”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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