# wet

> English word · Adjective · IPA /wɛt/ · frequency rank #2,813

## Definitions
1. Made up of liquid or moisture, usually (but not always) water.
2. Of an object, etc.: covered or impregnated with liquid, usually (but not always) water.
3. Of a burrito, sandwich, or other food: covered in a sauce.
4. Of calligraphy and fountain pens: depositing a large amount of ink from the nib or the feed.
5. Of a sound recording: having had audio effects applied.
6. Of weather or a time period: rainy.
7. Using afterburners or water injection for increased engine thrust.
8. Of a person: inexperienced in a profession or task; having the characteristics of a rookie.
9. Sexually aroused and thus having the vulva moistened with vaginal secretions.
10. Ineffectual, feeble, showing no strength of character.
11. Permitting alcoholic beverages.
12. Refreshed with liquor; drunk.
13. Of a scientist or laboratory: working with biological or chemical matter.
14. Employing, or done by means of, water or some other liquid.
15. Involving assassination or "wet work".
16. Of a board or flop: enabling the creation of many or of strong hands; e.g. containing connectors or suited cards. (Compare dry).
17. Of a Quaker: liberal with respect to religious observance.
18. With a usual complement or consummation; potent.

## Etymology
From Middle English wet (“wet, moistened”), wett, wette, past participle of Middle English weten (“to wet”), from Old English wǣtan (“to wet, moisten, water”), from Proto-West Germanic *wātijan, from Proto-Germanic *wētijaną (“to wet, make wet”), from Proto-Indo-European *wed- (“water, wet”) (also the source of water).
Cognate with Scots weit, wete (“to wet”), Saterland Frisian wäitje (“to wet; drench”), Icelandic væta (“to wet”). Compare also Middle English weet (“wet”), from Old English wǣt (“wet, moist, rainy”), from Proto-West Germanic *wāt, from Proto-Germanic *wētaz (“wet, moist”), related to Scots weit, weet, wat (“wet”), North Frisian wiat, weet, wäit (“wet”), Saterland Frisian wäit (“wet”), West Frisian wiet (“wet”), Middle Dutch wet (“wet, damp, watery”), Swedish and Norwegian våt (“wet”), Danish våd (“wet”), Faroese vátur (“wet”), Icelandic votur (“wet”).

## Easily confused with
- **wi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wi)
- **Wu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wu)
- **wo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wo)
- **wt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wt)
- **WS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-ws)
- **WV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wv)
- **WL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wl)
- **wy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wy)
- **WF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wf)
- **who** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-who)
- **why** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-why)
- **win** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-win)
- **won** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-won)
- **wow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wow)
- **WTF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wtf)
- **WWE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wwe)
- **wit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wit)
- **woo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-woo)
- **Wii** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wii)
- **wig** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wet-vs-wig)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/wet