wilt

¹

[wilt]

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

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

[wilt]

verb

Archaic.

1. second person singular present indicative of will.

wilt

¹

/ 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

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

/ wɪlt /

verb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilt¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilt¹

C17: perhaps variant of wilk to wither, from Middle Dutch welken

Example Sentences

Players who do well in smaller cities often wilt when they arrive in the Big Apple.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Without one, no matter what the statistics said, Judge would never shed his reputation as a superstar who wilted when the lights shined brightest.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

While Guy basks in professional success, Rosemary begins to wilt, enduring intense pain and flashbacks to a nightmare she had on the night of conception.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

But in France, that optimism appears to be wilting.

Read more on BBC

Unlike me, with my sad little balcony lined with wilted pots of herbs, he had proper outdoor space — and a neighbor whose blackberry bush slouched lazily over the fence, heavy with fruit.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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