1
: a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility
2
a
: a pampered and usually spoiled child
b
: a person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : darling
1
: kept or treated as a pet
2
: expressing fondness or endearment
a pet name
3
: favorite
a pet project
petted; petting
1
a
: to treat as a pet
b
: to stroke in a gentle or loving manner
2
: to treat with unusual kindness and consideration : pamper
: to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing : neck
petter
noun
dated
: a fit of peevishness, sulkiness, or anger
resigned in a pet
petroleum
Peter
positron-emission tomography
Examples of pet in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the teacher's pet was always getting special privileges
Adjective
The mayor's pet project has been the construction of a new high school.
spent my free time on my pet project
Verb (1)
a cat who loves to be petted
Noun (2)
the teenager stalked off in a pet after being refused permission to go the movies
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Water for pets, leaky pipes and faucets, damp basements and crawl spaces, and puddles in the yard provide good water sources.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Products recalled include drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements and pet and human food products.
—Riley Moser, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
In the Instagram video posted Saturday, Bardot is seen gently petting a young Doberman named Urphé, who suffered from severe generalized arthritis.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pet
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The Kardashian-Jenner family as a whole has acquired a number of pets over the years, including dogs, cats, reptiles and even horses.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Water for pets, leaky pipes and faucets, damp basements and crawl spaces, and puddles in the yard provide good water sources.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Kim and her children have posted photos of their pet lizards over the years, including a bearded dragon named Speed.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Products recalled include drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements and pet and human food products.
—Riley Moser, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Verb
Additional videos and photos showed her children taking turns petting Laila and holding her.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
In the Instagram video posted Saturday, Bardot is seen gently petting a young Doberman named Urphé, who suffered from severe generalized arthritis.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pet
Cite this Entry
“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pet. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pet
1 of 4 noun1
: someone given special treatment or consideration
teacher's pet
2
: a tame animal kept for pleasure rather than for use
pet
2 of 4 adjective1
: kept or treated as a pet
a pet rabbit
2
: showing fondness
a pet name
3
: favorite entry 2
my pet project
pet
4 of 4 noun
: a spell of sulkiness or anger
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share