petting
Americannoun
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the act of fondling or caressing.
Petting or massage may help calm a stressed or hyperactive dog.
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Informal. kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity between partners that does not involve sexual intercourse.
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the present participle of pet.
Etymology
Origin of petting
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Capybaras occasionally wander into the café, though petting them isn’t allowed.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
One couple who dreamed of running a pop-up campsite and petting farm decided to sell up and move to England, where the limit was 60.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
Signs on most kennels asked visitors to avoid putting their hands inside the kennels or petting the animals.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
I haven’t watched the series, so I didn’t understand why we were beheading a stuffed bear, but families seemed thrilled to explore the venue, including petting Uncle Fester’s Chupacabra.
From Barron's • Dec. 20, 2025
"So you must wait," he added, petting my hair so that Kashtanka gave me a jealous look, "you must wait until that kitten can make it on its own. Don't you agree?"
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
