pet
noun
any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
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pet
1 American
[pet]
/ pɛt /
noun
-
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.
adjective
-
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.
verb (used with object)
petted,
petting
verb (used without object)
petted,
petting
pet
2
American
[pet]
/ pɛt /
noun
verb (used without object)
PET
3
American
[pet]
/ pɛt /
noun
Computers, Medicine/Medical.
pet.
4
American
abbreviation
Pet.
5
American
abbreviation
pet
1
British
/ pɛt /
noun
-
a tame animal kept in a household for companionship, amusement, etc
-
a person who is fondly indulged; favourite
teacher's pet
adjective
-
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
verb
-
(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 )
PET
2
British
abbreviation
acronym
pet
3
British
/ pɛt /
noun
verb
Pet.
4
British
abbreviation
pet
Idioms
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pet1
First recorded in 1500–10; perhaps back formation from pet lamb. shortened variant of petty lamb “little lamb”; see petty
Origin of pet2
First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; cf. pettish
Origin of PET3
First recorded in 1975–80
Explanation
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.”
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.
See Examples For:
The low cost clinic meant that pet owners in Medway could "seek the treatment that they need and then take the animals home", without having to pay the full vet costs, she added.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
"Your pet would come first. You'd have a bit of toast yourself and pay out for your pet," said Chatham cat owner Christine Gardner.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
There’s something so intriguing to me about what they’ve done with that pet name across the season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The global pet care market was valued at around $181 billion in 2025, according to the market-research firm Grand View Research, which projects that valuation to grow to around $283 billion by 2033.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
He thought the turtles were dead and he was going to take them back to the pet store and complain.
From "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson
Sofie makes tracer agents that are injected into patients during PET scans, which help create images of tumors or other hidden parts of the body.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Sofie, based in Dulles, Va., operates a network of specialized pharmacies that distribute the tracers used in PET scans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Danish intelligence agency PET in September warned that Russia was "actively preparing acts of sabotage targeting the defence industry in Denmark".
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
The research involved 122 people, including 29 diagnosed with schizophrenia, making it one of the largest synaptic density PET imaging studies conducted so far.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
But I’d had a total body PET scan on the first night in the hospital, they told me, and the news was good: no tumor growth.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
“Or cuddling with your pet. Service and volunteerism can also be a joy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025
Fighting back tears, Ms O'Malley said: "I miss her so much. She was my little friend, my pet. I'm literally dizzy with grief and it's the same every day."
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2024
"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
“Geez. Look at it this way. If you add our ages together, we're not minors; we're one adult. Freebie isn't a pet. He’s a hotel guest and family member. And I showered after basketball.”
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of glory” in 1 Pet. iv.
From The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit by R. A. (Reuben Archer) Torrey
The fundamental idea of this part of the book is expressed in 1 Pet. iv.
From Christology of the Old Testament: And a Commentary on the Messianic Predictions, Vol. 1 by Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg
Love the brotherhood;' and in 2 Pet. i.
From St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians A Practical Exposition by Charles Gore
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 C. (Charles) H. (Henry) Mackintosh
There are also h, containing 1 Pet. iv. 17-2 Pet. ii.
From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. II. by Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener
I petted my bird by tapping my screen while my real life cat glared at me from a corner.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 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
The video of Paora, which was posted to social media, showed him being scratched and petted around the neck and face by a zookeeper, as well as members of the public.
From New York Times ● May 24, 2023
We cooed and petted his short, dark feathers.
From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na
Also offered: a straw maze, pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, giant rocking horses, slides and more.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 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
Following last year's outbreak, PHW has issued a warning to people who are preparing for outings to farms and petting attractions this spring.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
You mean to tell me I was stuck feeding baby goats at the petting zoo when I could’ve been riding dragons?
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
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