adj
Common
wee
wee
Wee (adj) means Very small; tiny. Example: “The baby's wee fingers curled tightly around my thumb.”
adj
1
Very small; tiny.
"The baby's wee fingers curled tightly around my thumb."
"Just give me a wee bit more time to finish."
"The puppy was a wee little thing when we first got him."
noun
1
Urine, or an act of urinating (informal, chiefly British).
"Do you need a wee before we set off on the long drive?"
"She nipped to the loo for a quick wee during the interval."
"The toddler needed a wee before they left the house."
verb
1
To urinate (informal, chiefly British).
"The little boy was desperate to wee after the long car journey."
"Please remember to wee before bedtime so you can sleep through the night."
"The dog weed on the carpet again."
How to use wee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small amount of something, or, in a completely separate everyday use, a childish/informal word for urinating.
When to use it
The "small" sense is common and neutral, especially in Scottish and Irish English; the "urinate" sense is informal, mainly used with children.
Common pairings
a wee bit
a wee while
wee hours
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Word forms
- Plural
- wees
- Third person singular
- wees
- Past tense
- weed
- Comparative
- weer
- Superlative
- weest
Fill the gap
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The baby's _____ fingers curled tightly around my thumb.
Etymology
From an Old English word for "weight" or "small amount," which narrowed over time in Scots and Northern English to mean simply "tiny".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wee
See all rhymes for wee →Frequently asked questions
What does “wee” mean?
The word “wee” means very small; tiny.
How do you pronounce “wee”?
“Wee” is pronounced wee (/wiː/ in IPA).
How do you use “wee” in a sentence?
Here is “wee” used in a sentence: “Just give me a wee bit more time to finish.”
What part of speech is “wee”?
Depending on how it is used, “wee” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “wee” come from?
The word “wee” comes from Old English. From an Old English word for "weight" or "small amount," which narrowed over time in Scots and Northern English to mean simply "tiny".
Is “wee” a common word?
“Wee” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “wee” have?
“Wee” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very small; tiny.
What is the difference between "wee" and "small"?
"Wee" and "small" both describe little size, but "wee" is informal and regional, often carrying a warm or endearing tone, while "small" is neutral and standard everywhere. You might call a child a "wee one" affectionately, but use "small" in formal writing.
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