jilt

American  

[jilt] / dʒɪlt /

verb (used with object)

jilts, present (3rd person singular) jilted, past participle, past jilting present participle

1. to reject or cast aside (a lover or sweetheart), especially abruptly or unfeelingly.

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noun

1. a woman who jilts a lover.

jilt British  

/ dʒɪlt /

verb

1. (tr) to leave or reject (a lover), esp without previous warning

   she was jilted at the altar

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noun

1. a woman who jilts a lover

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• jilter
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• jilting
  present
• jilted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• jilt
  simple
• jilts
  simple
• have jilted
  perfect
• has jilted
  perfect
• am jilting
  progressive
• are jilting
  progressive
• is jilting
  progressive
• have been jilting
  perfect progressive
• has been jilting
  perfect progressive

Past

• jilted
  simple
• had jilted
  perfect
• was jilting
  progressive
• were jilting
  progressive
• had been jilting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will jilt
  simple
• will have jilted
  perfect
• will be jilting
  progressive
• will have been jilting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of jilt

First recorded in 1650–60; earlier jilt “harlot,” shortening of jillet

Explanation

When you jilt someone, you throw them over or reject them, especially romantically. It would be cruel to jilt your boyfriend on the day before the prom. If a bride jilts her groom, she leaves him waiting for her in his tuxedo, and if a boy jilts his date, he never shows up at the planned time. In either case, it's an unkind and thoughtless thing to do to someone. In the 1660s, to jilt meant "to deceive, cheat, or trick," and it was also a noun meaning "woman who gives hope and then dashes it," from the Middle English root gille, "lass or wench."

Example Sentences

Trying to remain friends ruined Jack’s marriage and made Alice jilt another man at the altar.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2024

Hernandez, stunning his family, decided to jilt U-Conn. and his home state altogether not long after, to play football at the University of Florida, where Coach Urban Meyer had built a powerhouse program.

From Washington Post • Jan. 15, 2020

Every time you are tempted to respond, look at your fiancé—the one who didn’t jilt you and lie to you.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2019

It was a hell of a way to snatch a late equaliser, set a wonderful record and convince José Mourinho he could finally jilt an over-the-hill hero.

From The Guardian • May 22, 2017

A Helen, indeed! not to be won under ten years' siege; as great a beauty, and as great a jilt.

From The Recruiting Officer by Farquhar, George