wean
1 synonym and 1 antonym for wean, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To gradually stop a baby or young animal from feeding on milk, switching it to other food.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
ablactate
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To gradually stop a baby or young animal from feeding on milk, switching it to other food.
“They began to wean the baby onto solid food at six months.”
ablactate
2. verb
To gradually break a habit or dependence.
“The company is trying to wean itself off fossil fuels.”
Opposites
How to use wean
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
wean off
wean a baby
wean someone from
Etymology
From Old English wenian ("to accustom, train"), related to the word "wont."
Full origin of wean →Frequently asked questions
What does “wean” mean?
The word “wean” means to gradually stop a baby or young animal from feeding on milk, switching it to other food. In plain terms, to stop a baby feeding on milk and move it to solid food, or more generally to gradually break any dependence.
How do you pronounce “wean”?
“Wean” is pronounced WEEN (/ˈwiːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “wean” in a sentence?
Here is “wean” used in a sentence: “They began to wean the baby onto solid food at six months.”
What part of speech is “wean”?
“Wean” is a verb.
Where does the word “wean” come from?
The word “wean” comes from Old English. From Old English wenian ("to accustom, train"), related to the word "wont.".
How many meanings does “wean” have?
“Wean” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to gradually stop a baby or young animal from feeding on milk, switching it to other food.
