wilt

¹ American  

[wilt] / wɪlt /

verb (used without object)

1. to become limp and drooping, as a fading flower; wither.

2. to lose strength, vigor, assurance, etc..

   to wilt after a day's hard work.

   Synonyms:

   weaken, ebb, droop, wane

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to wilt.

noun

1. the act of wilting, or the state of being wilted.

   a sudden wilt of interest in the discussion.

2. Plant Pathology.

   1. the drying out, drooping, and withering of the leaves of a plant due to inadequate water supply, excessive transpiration, or vascular disease.

   2. a disease so characterized, as fusarium wilt.

3. a virus disease of various caterpillars, characterized by the liquefaction of body tissues.

wilt ² American  

[wilt] / wɪlt /

verb

Archaic.

1. second person singular present indicative of will.

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wilt ¹ British  

/ wɪlt /

verb

1. to become or cause to become limp, flaccid, or drooping

   insufficient water makes plants wilt

2. to lose or cause to lose courage, strength, etc

3. (tr) to cook (a leafy vegetable) very briefly until it begins to collapse

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noun

1. the act of wilting or state of becoming wilted

2. any of various plant diseases characterized by permanent wilting, usually caused by fungal parasites attacking the roots

wilt ² British  

/ wɪlt /

verb

1. archaic a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of will 1

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Etymology

Origin of wilt

First recorded in 1685–95; dialectal variant of wilk “to wither,” itself variant of welk, Middle English welken, probably from Middle Dutch welken; compare German welk “withered”

Example Sentences

When Conan crashed over and survived another TMO check early in the second half, Ireland threatened to pull away from Wales, but the visitors refused to wilt.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Fold in winter greens — kale, escarole, spinach — and let them wilt just until tender but still verdant.

From Salon • Feb. 24, 2026

"Fusarium wilt -- also known as Panama disease -- is a destructive soil-borne disease which impacts farmed Cavendish bananas worldwide through its virulent Race 4 strains," Dr. Chen said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

“I didn’t want to completely lose my old self, but I wanted to let it wilt in a way,” they say, explaining how they saw themselves reflected in the dahlia.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

And wilt thou please comfort them grievin’ daughters in the parlor, Lord, and Will Tweedy here, and li’l Mary Toy.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Related Words

• cave in
• diminish
• droop
• dwindle
• ebb
• fade
• faint
• melt
• shrivel
• succumb
• wane
• wither