# wilt

> English word · Verb · IPA /wɪlt/ · frequency rank #21,980

## Definitions
1. To droop or become limp and flaccid (as a dying leaf or flower).
2. To fatigue; to lose strength; to flag.
3. To cause to droop or become limp and flaccid (as a flower).
4. To cause to fatigue; to exhaust.

## Etymology
Recorded since 1691, probably an alteration of welk, itself from Middle English welken, presumed from Middle Dutch (preserved in modern inchoative verwelken) or Middle Low German welken (“to wither”), cognate with Old High German irwelhen (“to become soft”).

## Easily confused with
- **wt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wt)
- **WL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wl)
- **win** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-win)
- **wit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wit)
- **wis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wis)
- **wiz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wiz)
- **wot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wot)
- **wut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wut)
- **wim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wim)
- **with** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-with)
- **wish** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wish)
- **wind** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wind)
- **wine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wine)
- **wins** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wins)
- **wing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wing)
- **wise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wise)
- **wire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wire)
- **wolf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wolf)
- **wont** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wont)
- **wipe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wilt-vs-wipe)

## Common misspellings (6)
`iwlt`, `willt`, `wiltt`, `witl`, `wlit`, `wwilt`

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