wean
verb (used with object)
to accustom (a child or young animal) to food other than mother's milk; cause to lose the need to suckle or turn to the mother for food.
weaned
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past participleof wean.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof wean.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
weanverb (used with object)to accustom (a child or young animal) to food other than mother's milk; cause to lose the need to suckle or turn to the mother for food.
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.
In response to the assessment by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the UN warned that until humanity weaned off fossil fuels, the planet would only push deeper into uncharted territory.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
She definitely wasn’t, but I could see why she was concerned: Generations of young people have been weaned on visions of summer as a catalyst for transformation.
From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026
The coroner raised concerns that the doctor may have missed opportunities to put Cauchi back on medication after he was weaned off.
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026
As January drew to a close, I weaned myself off the motivational videos.
From Slate ● Feb. 15, 2026
Soft boiled foods could be fed to small children, permitting the kids to be weaned earlier and their mothers to produce babies at shorter birth intervals.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
