verb
Uncommon
wilt
wihlt
Wilt (verb) means to droop and lose freshness, as a plant does when it lacks water. Example: “The flowers wilted in the afternoon heat.”
verb
1
To droop and lose freshness, as a plant does when it lacks water.
"The flowers wilted in the afternoon heat."
"Without rain for weeks, the crops began to wilt."
2
To lose energy, strength, or confidence.
"The team wilted under pressure in the final minutes."
"He wilted after hours of relentless questioning."
How to use wilt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo droop or weaken — used for plants losing freshness or people losing energy and resolve.
Common pairings
wilt in the heat
wilt under pressure
begin to wilt
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wilt.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wilts
- Third person singular
- wilts
- Past tense
- wilted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The flowers _____ in the afternoon heat.
Etymology
Recorded from the late 1600s, likely an altered form of the older word welk ("to wither"), from Middle Dutch or Low German roots meaning "to become soft".
Class of 1600
wilt joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for wilt
See all rhymes for wilt →Frequently asked questions
What does “wilt” mean?
The word “wilt” means to droop and lose freshness, as a plant does when it lacks water. In plain terms, to droop or weaken — used for plants losing freshness or people losing energy and resolve.
How do you pronounce “wilt”?
“Wilt” is pronounced wihlt (/wɪlt/ in IPA).
How do you use “wilt” in a sentence?
Here is “wilt” used in a sentence: “The flowers wilted in the afternoon heat.”
What part of speech is “wilt”?
“Wilt” is a verb.
Where does the word “wilt” come from?
The word “wilt” dates back to around 1600 and comes from German. Recorded from the late 1600s, likely an altered form of the older word welk ("to wither"), from Middle Dutch or Low German roots meaning "to become soft".
Is “wilt” a common word?
“Wilt” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “wilt” have?
“Wilt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to droop and lose freshness, as a plant does when it lacks water.
