verb
wilden
WYL-duhn
Wilden (verb) means to make something wild, or to become wilder or more untamed. Example: “Years of neglect let the once-tidy garden wilden into a thicket.”
verb
1
To make something wild, or to become wilder or more untamed.
"The glorification of the business-man which is the effect of the present government's capital profits, expense account and pension fund policies is ‘wildening’ our capitalism."
— Wayland Hilton Young, Wayland Kennet (1965)
"His alembic furnished Highland spring water. We sat for a while in companionable silence. The weather wildened."
— Poul Anderson, Operation Luna (2010)
"Years of neglect let the once-tidy garden wilden into a thicket."
"The new policy aims to wilden parts of the coastline by removing old sea defenses."
"In any event, our relations with Dorthillion have become poor since the ways have wildened."
— K. S. Mulholland, Varlarsaga (2011)
How to use wilden
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo turn wild, or let something return to a wild state.
Common pairings
wilden the land
wilden a garden
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- wildens
- Past tense
- wildened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Years of neglect let the once-tidy garden _____ into a thicket.
Etymology
Formed from "wild" plus the verb-forming suffix "-en," the same pattern seen in "harden" and "soften."
Rhymes for wilden
See all rhymes for wilden →Frequently asked questions
What does “wilden” mean?
The word “wilden” means to make something wild, or to become wilder or more untamed. In plain terms, to turn wild, or let something return to a wild state.
How do you pronounce “wilden”?
“Wilden” is pronounced WYL-duhn (/ˈwaɪldən/ in IPA).
How do you use “wilden” in a sentence?
Here is “wilden” used in a sentence: “Years of neglect let the once-tidy garden wilden into a thicket.”
What part of speech is “wilden”?
“Wilden” is a verb.
