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
Survey respondents told the firm that demand for vet services was still strong, and that more people have been using pet insurance to cover their pets.
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
Criw Compostio picks up waste, as well as wood shavings from a carpentry business and used rabbit and guinea pig bedding from pet owners, twice a week.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
“Why don’t you pet him a little? Then you’ll see how friendly he is and you won’t be scared of him. He won’t hurt you.”
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
“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
A series of chemical processes then transform those fossil fuels into Polyethylene terephthalate -- or PET -- which the bottle is made from.
From Barron's ● Jan. 26, 2026
I had a PET scan scheduled in a couple weeks.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
"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
“These are not reasonable loans, the terms are predatory, in some cases doubling the cost of the pet. That’s absurd.”
From Washington Post ● Sep. 30, 2022
“Whatever the circumstances, you’ve let yourself get trounced by two children, a Queen Mother, and their weird pet. And you call yourself War Lord.”
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Self-denial is the ornament and beauty of a creature, and therefore humility is an ornament and clothing, 1 Pet. v.
From The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning by Binning, Hugh
As touching obedience to those that are set over us, if they mean not to tyrannise over the Lord's inheritance, 1 Pet. v.
From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by Gillespie, George
In reference to the passage under consideration, it is said in 1 Pet. ii.
From Christology of the Old Testament: And a Commentary on the Messianic Predictions. Vol. 2 by Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm
A roaring lion and an adversary, 1 Pet. v.
From The Messiah in Moses and the Prophets by Lord, Eleazar
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
In 1922, one of the earliest studies to emphasize the benefits of touch found that rats who were infrequently touched were more timid and high-strung than those who were petted.
From Salon ● Jan. 20, 2023
Whatever, once we have imagined it, foreign and therefore hostile, it is not to be petted.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
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
We’ll save the farm petting zoo and a lake cruise for another visit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Capybaras occasionally wander into the café, though petting them isn’t allowed.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
The owner of the petting zoo was a bear of a man.
From "Pony Problems: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #3" by Carolyn Keene
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.
