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”

Explanation

When things droop from heat, lack of water, or illness, they wilt. If you go on vacation for two weeks and forget to water your plants first, they will wilt. The vegetables in your garden will wilt if they're attacked by slugs or don't get enough moisture — and people can be said to wilt too, especially when they're limp and weak from exhaustion. A long walk on the hottest day of summer can make you wilt. Wilt was most likely first spelled welk, from the Middle Dutch word welken, "to wither or become soft."

Example Sentences

This fungus attacks the plant through the soil, causing it to wilt and die.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

The cost for treating oak wilt, or any tree disease that requires a fungicide injection, depends on the tree’s diameter at breast height, or DBH.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 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

Did they think they could bully India, only to then wilt in Australia?

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

“And wilt be able to play the harp when ’tis done?”

From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli

Related Words

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