any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
a person especially cherished or indulged; favorite.
He was the teacher's pet.
a thing particularly cherished.
kept or treated as a pet.
a pet lamb.
especially cherished or indulged, as a child or other person.
favorite; most preferred.
a pet theory.
showing fondness or affection.
to address someone with pet words.
a tame animal kept in a household for companionship, amusement, etc
a person who is fondly indulged; favourite
teacher's pet
kept as a pet
a pet dog
of or for pet animals
pet food
particularly cherished; favourite
a pet theory
a pet hatred
familiar or affectionate
a pet name
a single fine day during a period of bad weather
(tr) to treat (a person, animal, etc) as a pet; pamper
(tr) to pat or fondle (an animal, child, etc)
informal (intr) (of two people) to caress each other in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking (often in the phrase heavy petting )
What does pet mean? A pet is any animal that is tamed and trained to be kept as a companion, such as a dog or a bird. To pet means to stroke or rub an animal’s fur or body in a cherished way. A pet can also be a person or object that someone cherishes or indulges. Finally, pet can describe something that is cherished, such as a pet theory. Example: She is so extravagant that she has a big birthday party for her pet dog every year.
First recorded in 1500–10; perhaps back formation from pet lamb. shortened variant of petty lamb “little lamb”; see petty
First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; cf. pettish
First recorded in 1975–80
A pet is an animal you keep as a companion, usually in your house. People love to pet, or touch, their pets. A pet is also a favorite. A teacher’s pet is the teacher’s fave student. No barking required. Your pet might be a hamster in a cage or a big dog that sleeps in your bed. Farm animals, like cows and goats, aren't usually considered to be pets, but that’s how the word started. Pet comes from Scottish dialect and used to refer to a favorite animal that got to come live inside, like Wilbur the pig in Charlotte’s Web. Pet is also a creepy form of endearment. When pet is a verb, it means “to stroke or caress.”
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Swiss giant has said it is cutting around 16,000 jobs, has sold off brands and is reorganizing the business around four main categories–coffee, pet care, nutrition and food.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
However, others said that corporate consolidation and private-equity ownership in the industry had pushed prices beyond many pet owners’ reach.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
The pet hospital lost one of two AC units, meaning the facility is able to keep animals in its care and their human clients comfortable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Here, Nolan once again returns to his pet themes of playing God, human mistreatment, the passage of time, and bearing witness to the world’s slow, painful destruction.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
We tried to make him a pet and move him into the house, as we often do when dogs retire, but he didn’t want that, didn’t want to leave the kennel.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
Factories that would normally delay payment started putting down cash upfront "because they were so eager to secure material", said Rizq Yousif, who mainly recycles PET, the plastic widely used in beverage and food packaging.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
“This past weekend, after undergoing CT and PET scans, I learned that my ovarian cancer has returned,” Evert, 71, wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
That’s roughly how much of the resin used in the U.S. to make PET bottles and other packaging comes from Asia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
Published in Nature Communications, the research combines evidence from mice and humans, including brain tissue analysis and so-called PET scanning.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 11, 2026
She reached into her head and summoned the loudest silent voice she could find, then threw it as hard as she could in the creature’s direction: PET, STOP!
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
"People really need to know what they are letting themselves in for before buying an exotic pet. Come and speak to people like us, or staff at zoos - find out what it entails."
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025
“Or cuddling with your pet. Service and volunteerism can also be a joy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025
"People see friends as lonely or wanting companionship, and they recommend getting a pet. But it's unlikely that it'll be as transformative as people think."
From Science Daily ● Nov. 10, 2023
“It’s a patient with five family members and a pet. It’s a sad state of affairs, but you have to draw some limits.”
From New York Times ● Sep. 10, 2017
“So you traded an Italian villa and wine for a crumbling Cotswold and an illegal lab pet. You’re not very good at trades, are you, Lily?”
From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson
Then the whole Scriptures of God must yet be better proved, because the unstable do wrest them, as Peter speaks, 2 Pet. iii.
From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by Gillespie, George
We want the reader to open his Bible and read I Pet. ii.
From The Assembly of God Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, volume III by Mackintosh, C. (Charles) H. (Henry)
We will give but three instances more:—In 1 S. Pet. v.
From The Revision Revised by Burgon, John William
We are to be subject to them for the Lord's sake, as well as to the supreme magistrate, 1 Pet. ii.
From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Shields, Alexander
Moreover James ii. 12-21; 2 Pet. i. 20-ii.
From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. I. by Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose
He spent a full minute sniffing my legs and shoes, after coming up to Viana to be petted.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
Attendees wearing cowboy hats line danced, petted fluffy white calves and posed for pictures in front of an inflated cactus.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026
The pair shook hands with members of the public, accepted gifts and flowers, and also petted a few dogs beside some delighted owners.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2025
Footage of a kiwi in Miami being petted by zoo visitors under fluorescent lights has caused an outcry in New Zealand.
From New York Times ● May 25, 2023
While I scratched and petted them, I let them know that I still loved them.
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
Salgado said his father was a routine-oriented family man who left for work early and loved to end the day sitting on his porch, listening to music and petting his dog.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
After building many homes in the Houston suburbs, Lorenzo Salgado finally built his own, where he would sit every evening after work, listening to music and petting his dog, Ronaldo Salgado said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
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
“You’re going to get piojos if you keep petting him.”
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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.
