wee

1 of 2

adjective

ˈwē How to pronounce wee (audio)
Synonyms of wee
1
: very small : diminutive
2
: very early
wee hours of the morning

WEE

2 of 2

abbreviation

western equine encephalitis

Synonyms of wee

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Adjective

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Examples of wee in a Sentence

Adjective He's just a wee lad.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Other attendees didn't depart the arena until the wee hours of Saturday morning. — Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 The couple and their guests are expected to party into the wee hours of July 4 morning at the fabled arena. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 July 2026 Jiménez ensured those fans would keep making noise into the wee hours of Tuesday. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Microbial evolution has crafted both deadly molecules and clever tricks to dodge death as the wee organisms endlessly battle over turf and resources. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wee

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English we, from we, noun, little bit, from Old English wǣge weight; akin to Old English wegan to move, weigh — more at way

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wee was circa 1525

Phrases Containing wee

Rhymes for wee

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Browse Nearby Words

Wednesdays
wee
WEE
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Cite this Entry

“Wee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wee. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wee

adjective
ˈwē How to pronounce wee (audio)
1
: very small : tiny
2
: very early
the wee hours of the morning

Medical Definition

WEE

abbreviation
western equine encephalitis; western equine encephalomyelitis

More from Merriam-Webster on wee

Nglish: Translation of wee for Spanish Speakers

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