Whet
verb
To increase someone's interest or enthusiasm.
That small success has whetted her appetite for more work.
Often appears as...
- whet one's appetite
- whet one's interest
verb
To sharpen a tool or weapon.
He sat on the porch, whetting his knife with an old stone.
Often appears as...
- whet a knife
- whet a blade
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To increase someone's interest or enthusiasm.
That small success has whetted her appetite for more work.
Often appears as...
- whet one's appetite
- whet one's interest
verb
To sharpen a tool or weapon.
He sat on the porch, whetting his knife with an old stone.
Often appears as...
- whet a knife
- whet a blade
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Appetite
Used metaphorically to describe eagerness for more after an initial taste.
Winning the debate contest really whetted his appetite for the championship.
Pro Tip 2/3Common in Descriptions
Often used to describe scenarios where excitement or anticipation is built.
The movie trailer whetted my curiosity about the plot twists.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal Thirst
Don't use it when referring to actual food or drink; it's about interest, not physical hunger.
His fascinating travel stories whetted my desire to explore the world.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Appetite
Used metaphorically to describe eagerness for more after an initial taste.
Winning the debate contest really whetted his appetite for the championship.
Pro Tip 2/3Common in Descriptions
Often used to describe scenarios where excitement or anticipation is built.
The movie trailer whetted my curiosity about the plot twists.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal Thirst
Don't use it when referring to actual food or drink; it's about interest, not physical hunger.
His fascinating travel stories whetted my desire to explore the world.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Appetite
Used metaphorically to describe eagerness for more after an initial taste.
Winning the debate contest really whetted his appetite for the championship.
Pro Tip 2/3Common in Descriptions
Often used to describe scenarios where excitement or anticipation is built.
The movie trailer whetted my curiosity about the plot twists.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal Thirst
Don't use it when referring to actual food or drink; it's about interest, not physical hunger.
His fascinating travel stories whetted my desire to explore the world.
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Video examples
Ravin Agrawal: 10 young...
But I can only hope I've whet your appetite to go out and see and learn more about the amazing things that are happening in art in India today. Thank you very much for looking and listening.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 218 PIPE...
guy was the practical cheats victim he was already full so he allows some acrobatics to whet the appetite and the task of shoving
Video examples
Ravin Agrawal: 10 young...
But I can only hope I've whet your appetite to go out and see and learn more about the amazing things that are happening in art in India today. Thank you very much for looking and listening.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 218 PIPE...
guy was the practical cheats victim he was already full so he allows some acrobatics to whet the appetite and the task of shoving
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Stanley R. Jaffe
American Politician
Occasionally, I'll direct if there's something I feel strongly about. Having done it has whetted my appetite to do it again, but I don't feel an internal pressure to direct. It certainly will make me a better producer, because I'm more empathetic; I really appreciate now what the director is going through every day.
Quote examples
Craig Robinson
American Actor
I'm focused on the work. And now I've done 'Morris' and 'Mr. Robot,' my appetite is whet to go deeper. It's fun, and it's challenging, and it stretches me. I'm not saying I'm done with comedy by any stretch of the imagination. I'm saying, yeah, let's see how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Quote examples
Rick Famuyiwa
Nigerian Director
It's insidious how Hollywood warps your values without you even realizing that it's happening to you. You get a little whiff of success and it whets your appetite, and before you know it you're going right down the road they've laid out for you.
Quote examples
William Godwin
English Writer
Every boy learns more in his hours of play than in his hours of labor. In school, he lays in the materials of thinking, but in his sports, he actually thinks: he whets his faculties, and he opens his eyes.
Quote examples
David Ayer
American Director
Fury' whetted my appetite for a bigger canvas and this idea of world creation. You can do amazing things as a filmmaker if you have the proper tools, and those are time and money.
Quote examples
Quintilian
Roman Educator
Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.
Quote examples
Akhenaton
Egyptian Statesman
Indulge not thyself in the passion of anger; it is whetting a sword to wound thine own breast, or murder thy friend.
Quote examples
John Barton
Canadian Poet
To me many short poems read and write like beginnings that simply whet my appetite; I want to get over that.
Quote examples
Jonathan Brandis
American Actor
Furthermore I will just have to see what the future will bring me. But a change of food whets the appetite.
Quote examples
Jeremy Irons
English Actor
I was not naturally intellectual, but somebody whose interest had to be whetted, still the case sadly.
Quote examples
Stanley R. Jaffe
American Politician
Occasionally, I'll direct if there's something I feel strongly about. Having done it has whetted my appetite to do it again, but I don't feel an internal pressure to direct. It certainly will make me a better producer, because I'm more empathetic; I really appreciate now what the director is going through every day.
Quote examples
Craig Robinson
American Actor
I'm focused on the work. And now I've done 'Morris' and 'Mr. Robot,' my appetite is whet to go deeper. It's fun, and it's challenging, and it stretches me. I'm not saying I'm done with comedy by any stretch of the imagination. I'm saying, yeah, let's see how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Quote examples
Rick Famuyiwa
Nigerian Director
It's insidious how Hollywood warps your values without you even realizing that it's happening to you. You get a little whiff of success and it whets your appetite, and before you know it you're going right down the road they've laid out for you.
Quote examples
William Godwin
English Writer
Every boy learns more in his hours of play than in his hours of labor. In school, he lays in the materials of thinking, but in his sports, he actually thinks: he whets his faculties, and he opens his eyes.
Quote examples
David Ayer
American Director
Fury' whetted my appetite for a bigger canvas and this idea of world creation. You can do amazing things as a filmmaker if you have the proper tools, and those are time and money.
Quote examples
Quintilian
Roman Educator
Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.
Quote examples
Akhenaton
Egyptian Statesman
Indulge not thyself in the passion of anger; it is whetting a sword to wound thine own breast, or murder thy friend.
Quote examples
John Barton
Canadian Poet
To me many short poems read and write like beginnings that simply whet my appetite; I want to get over that.
Quote examples
Jonathan Brandis
American Actor
Furthermore I will just have to see what the future will bring me. But a change of food whets the appetite.
Quote examples
Jeremy Irons
English Actor
I was not naturally intellectual, but somebody whose interest had to be whetted, still the case sadly.
Example 1 of 10
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