Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense wilts, present participle wilting, past tense, past participle wilted
1. verb
If a plant wilts, it gradually bends downwards and becomes weak because it needs more water or is dying.
The roses wilted the day after she bought them. [VERB]
Remove any damaged or wilted leaves. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: droop, wither, sag, shrivel More Synonyms of wilt
2. verb
If someone wilts, they become weak or tired, or lose confidence.
She soon wilted in the morning heat. [VERB]
The government wilted in the face of such powerful pressure. [VERB]
Synonyms: wane, fail, sink, flag More Synonyms of wilt
More Synonyms of wilt
wilt in British English1
(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. (transitive)
to cook (a leafy vegetable) very briefly until it begins to collapse
noun
4.
the act of wilting or state of becoming wilted
5.
any of various plant diseases characterized by permanent wilting, usually caused by fungal parasites attacking the roots
Word origin
C17: perhaps variant of wilk to wither, from Middle Dutch welken
wilt in British English2
(wɪlt)
verb
archaic or dialect(used with the pronounthou or its relative equivalent) a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of will1
wilt in American English1
(wɪlt)
verb intransitive
1.
to become limp, as from heat or lack of water; wither; droop
said of plants
2.
to become weak or faint; lose strength; languish
3.
to lose courage; quail
verb transitive
4.
to cause to wilt
noun
5.
a wilting or being wilted
6.
a.
a highly infectious disease of some caterpillars, in which the carcasses liquefy
b.
any of several plant diseases caused by certain bacteria or fungi and characterized by wilting of the leaves
also, esp. for wilt disease
Word origin
var. of obs. welk, to wither < ME welken, to fade, wither, dry up, akin to OHG welc, damp, wilted < IE *welg-, var. of base *welk-, moist, damp > OE wealg, nauseous
wilt in American English2
(wɪlt)
verb
Archaic
UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
used with thou
Examples of 'wilt' in a sentence
wilt
Stir until the spinach has wilted and the sauce is warm.
The Sun (2017)
While the fish steam, melt remaining butter in a frying pan and quickly wilt the spinach.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Just before the chicken is cooked through, wilt the spinach in the pan.
The Sun (2017)
Cover the pan with a lid and simmer gently for a further 5 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft and the spinach has wilted.
The Sun (2016)
Add the spinach and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Then sprinkle some ham and some of the wilted spinach.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Always plant them quite deep so the base of the stem is protected against clematis wilt disease.
The Sun (2013)
My fiancé is wilting under the pressure of having to perform on demand.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
These are skills that wilt in the heat of the race if duress has not become habit.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Serve with steamed vegetables or wilted spinach.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Stir well until the spinach has wilted.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Add the spinach and gently turn it in the pan until it is almost fully wilted.
The Sun (2016)
Stir to warm the ingredients through and wilt the spinach.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Add the spinach and cook for a few minutes until the leaves are fully wilted.
The Sun (2015)
He is not the only banking boss to have wilted under the pressure of the job.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Stir till all chicken is covered in the sauce and all the spinach has wilted.
The Sun (2015)
There are already clear early warning signals of the toll on demand from wilting confidence and squeezed spending power.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Some are prone to mildew and wilt; avoid tall kinds.
Bloom, Adrian Winter Garden Glory (1993)
If your plant is wilting, the sensors will text your mobile and warn you to add more fertiliser.
The Sun (2016)
Stir the chilli, rosemary and leek into the wilted vegetables followed by the carrot and ½ tsp salt.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Yet the days of wilting petals could soon be over, if gene science has anything to do with it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The hops got the wilt, a fungal disease in the soil, and were taken out.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Let's just say no wilted plant gains much from less than 2-3 litres.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Their strokeplay was confident as England's bowlers began to wilt in the heat.
The Sun (2013)
They have often wilted in the face of any side that went out, quite literally, to knock them off their game.
The Sun (2010)
With business and earnings under intense pressure, financial industries' confidence was already wilting before the upheavals of the past few weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
wilt
British English: wilt /wɪlt/ VERB
If a plant wilts, it gradually bends downwards and becomes weak, because it needs more water or is dying.
The roses wilted the day after she bought them.
American English: wilt
Arabic: يَذْبُلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: murchar
Chinese: 枯萎
Croatian: venuti
Czech: vadnout
Danish: visne
Dutch: verwelken
European Spanish: marchitarse
Finnish: kuihtua
French: se faner
German: welken
Greek: μαραίνω
Italian: appassire
Japanese: しおれる
Korean: 시들다
Norwegian: visne
Polish: zmarnieć
European Portuguese: murchar
Romanian: a se ofili
Russian: увядать
Latin American Spanish: marchitarse
Swedish: vissna
Thai: เหี่ยวเฉา
Turkish: solmak
Ukrainian: в'янути
Vietnamese: héo
Chinese translation of 'wilt'
wilt
(wɪlt)
vi
枯萎 (kūwěi)
1 (verb)
Definition
(of a flower or plant) to become limp or drooping
The roses wilted the day after she bought them.
Synonyms
droop
wither
Farmers have watched their crops wither because of the drought.
sag
He shrugged and sagged into a chair.
shrivel
The plant shrivels and dies.
become limp or flaccid
2 (verb)
Definition
(of a person) to lose strength or confidence
She began to wilt in the morning heat.
Synonyms
weaken
The storm was finally beginning to weaken.
Family structures are weakening and breaking up.
sag
Some of the tension he builds up begins to sag.
languish
He continues to languish in prison.
droop
Support for him is beginning to droop amongst voters.
3 (verb)
Their resolution wilted in the face of such powerful opposition.
Synonyms
wane
His interest in art to wane.
fail
Here in the hills, the light failed more quickly.
sink
Our hopes were sinking fast.
flag
His enthusiasm was in no way flagging.
fade
After that all her worries faded away.
diminish
The threat of war has diminished.
dwindle
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
wither
His dream of being a famous footballer withered and died.
ebb
There were occasions when my enthusiasm ebbed.
melt away
lose courage
Additional synonyms
in the sense of diminish
Definition
to make or become smaller, fewer, or less
The threat of war has diminished.
Synonyms
decrease,
decline,
lessen,
contract,
weaken,
shrink,
dwindle,
wane,
recede,
subside,
ebb,
taper,
die out,
fade away,
abate,
peter out
in the sense of dwindle
Definition
to grow less in size, strength, or number
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
Synonyms
lessen,
fall,
decline,
contract,
sink,
fade,
weaken,
shrink,
diminish,
decrease,
decay,
wither,
wane,
subside,
ebb,
die down,
die out,
abate,
shrivel,
peter out,
die away,
waste away,
taper off,
grow less
in the sense of ebb
Definition
to fall away or decline
There were occasions when my enthusiasm ebbed.
Synonyms
decline,
drop,
sink,
flag,
weaken,
shrink,
diminish,
decrease,
deteriorate,
decay,
dwindle,
lessen,
subside,
degenerate,
fall away,
fade away,
abate,
peter out,
slacken
Synonyms of 'wilt'
wilt
Explore 'wilt' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fade
Definition
to lose brightness, colour, or strength
After that all her worries faded away.
Synonyms
dwindle,
disappear,
vanish,
melt away,
fall,
fail,
decline,
flag,
dissolve,
dim,
disperse,
wither,
wilt,
wane,
perish,
ebb,
languish,
die out,
droop,
shrivel,
die away,
waste away,
vanish into thin air,
become unimportant,
evanesce (formal),
etiolate
in the sense of fail
Definition
to stop operating
Here in the hills, the light failed more quickly.
Synonyms
give out,
disappear,
fade,
dim,
dwindle,
wane,
gutter,
languish,
peter out,
die away,
grow dim,
sink
in the sense of flag
Definition
to lose enthusiasm or energy
His enthusiasm was in no way flagging.
Synonyms
weaken,
fall,
die,
fail,
decline,
sink,
fade,
slump,
pine,
faint,
weary,
fall off,
succumb,
falter,
wilt,
wane,
ebb,
sag,
languish,
abate,
droop,
peter out,
taper off,
feel the pace,
lose your strength
in the sense of languish
Definition
to suffer deprivation, hardship, or neglect
He continues to languish in prison.
Synonyms
decline,
waste away,
fade away,
wither away,
flag,
weaken,
wilt,
sicken
in the sense of sag
Definition
to sink in the middle, under weight or pressure
He shrugged and sagged into a chair.
Synonyms
drop,
sink,
slump,
flop,
droop,
loll
in the sense of sag
Definition
(of courage or spirits) to weaken or tire
Some of the tension he builds up begins to sag.
Synonyms
decline,
fall,
slip,
tire,
slide,
flag,
slump,
weaken,
wilt,
wane,
cave in,
droop
in the sense of shrivel
Definition
to become dry and withered
The plant shrivels and dies.
Synonyms
wither,
dry (up),
wilt,
shrink,
wrinkle,
dwindle,
dehydrate,
desiccate,
wizen
in the sense of sink
Definition
to become weaker in health
Our hopes were sinking fast.
Synonyms
decline,
die,
fade,
fail,
flag,
weaken,
diminish,
decrease,
deteriorate,
decay,
worsen,
dwindle,
lessen,
degenerate,
depreciate,
go downhill (informal)
in the sense of wither
Definition
to make or become dried up or shrivelled
Farmers have watched their crops wither because of the drought.
Synonyms
wilt,
dry,
decline,
shrink,
decay,
disintegrate,
perish,
languish,
droop,
shrivel,
desiccate
in the sense of wither
Definition
to fade or waste
His dream of being a famous footballer withered and died.