wilt

¹ American  

[wilt] / wɪlt /

verb (used without object)

1. to become limp and drooping, as a fading flower; wither.

2. to lose strength, vigor, assurance, etc..

   to wilt after a day's hard work.

   Synonyms:

   weaken, ebb, droop, wane

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to wilt.

noun

1. the act of wilting, or the state of being wilted.

   a sudden wilt of interest in the discussion.

2. Plant Pathology.

   1. the drying out, drooping, and withering of the leaves of a plant due to inadequate water supply, excessive transpiration, or vascular disease.

   2. a disease so characterized, as fusarium wilt.

3. a virus disease of various caterpillars, characterized by the liquefaction of body tissues.

wilt ² American  

[wilt] / wɪlt /

verb

Archaic.

1. second person singular present indicative of will.

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wilt ¹ British  

/ wɪlt /

verb

1. to become or cause to become limp, flaccid, or drooping

   insufficient water makes plants wilt

2. to lose or cause to lose courage, strength, etc

3. (tr) to cook (a leafy vegetable) very briefly until it begins to collapse

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noun

1. the act of wilting or state of becoming wilted

2. any of various plant diseases characterized by permanent wilting, usually caused by fungal parasites attacking the roots

wilt ² British  

/ wɪlt /

verb

1. archaic a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of will 1

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Etymology

Origin of wilt

First recorded in 1685–95; dialectal variant of wilk “to wither,” itself variant of welk, Middle English welken, probably from Middle Dutch welken; compare German welk “withered”

Explanation

When things droop from heat, lack of water, or illness, they wilt. If you go on vacation for two weeks and forget to water your plants first, they will wilt. The vegetables in your garden will wilt if they're attacked by slugs or don't get enough moisture — and people can be said to wilt too, especially when they're limp and weak from exhaustion. A long walk on the hottest day of summer can make you wilt. Wilt was most likely first spelled welk, from the Middle Dutch word welken, "to wither or become soft."

Example Sentences

He became just the seventh Laker to record a 60-point game, joining franchise legends Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Jerry West and Shaquille O’Neal.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

It surpassed Bryant’s legendary 81-point game from January 2006 and trails only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point night from 1962, which still stands as the NBA’s single-game record.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Wilt Chamberlain's record of 100 points has stood since 1962.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 29 points, six rebounds and four assists as he edged closer to Wilt Chamberlain’s mark of 126 straight 20-point performances, a record set between 1961 and 1963.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

Pa and Mrs. watched Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell try to stop each other from scoring baskets.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Related Words

• cave in
• diminish
• droop
• dwindle
• ebb
• fade
• faint
• melt
• shrivel
• succumb
• wane
• wither