wet
wet — adjective
1. having liquid, especially water, on the surface or inside the material so that i
having liquid, especially water, on the surface or inside the material so that it feels not dry to the touch
Hassan's shoes were wet after he stepped in a deep puddle on the way to school.
collocation: wet + body part / clothing
The paintbrush needs to be wet before you dip it into the paint pot.
infinitive complement: needs to be wet
Sivan wiped the kitchen counter with a wet cloth to clean off the sticky juice.
Camila hung her wet gym towel over the balcony rail to dry in the sun.
- wet hair
- wet clothes
- wet ground
- wet with sweat
- wet from the rain
- dry
having no water or liquid on the surface
Usage Note
Commonly used with body parts (wet hands, wet hair) and clothing (wet shoes, wet socks). The opposite is dry.
Common Mistakes
2. still in liquid form and not yet dry or hardened, so that it will smear or stick
still in liquid form and not yet dry or hardened, so that it will smear or stick to anything that touches it
A yellow sign on the bench said 'Wet paint — do not sit here.'
common warning sign: Wet paint
Ryo accidentally brushed against the wet paint on the door frame and got blue on his sleeve.
The artist waited for the first layer to dry before adding more wet ink to the paper.
collocation: wet ink
Naoko pressed her hand into the wet cement in the garden and left a print.
- wet paint
- wet ink
- wet cement
Usage Note
Most commonly seen on warning signs about paint. Ink and cement are also described this way while they are still fresh.
3. describing weather, a day, or a season when rain falls or has just fallen
describing weather, a day, or a season when rain falls or has just fallen
The weather forecast says it will be wet all weekend, so bring an umbrella.
be + wet for weather prediction
June is the wettest month of the year in this part of Japan.
superlative: wettest month
Even on a wet afternoon, the Watanabe family walked to the station together.
Baraka put on his raincoat when he saw how cold and wet the morning looked.
- wet weather
- wet season
- wet day
- wet afternoon
- wet weekend
Usage Note
Used to describe periods of time (wet afternoon, wet season, wet weather). Contrast with 'rainy', which is more direct about rain falling.
4. completely wet through, usually because of heavy rain, falling into water, or sw
completely wet through, usually because of heavy rain, falling into water, or sweating heavily
Defne forgot her umbrella and arrived home soaking wet from the sudden storm.
intensifier: soaking wet
The children were completely wet after the other team sprayed them with a garden hose.
Anong fell into the stream and was wet through before anyone could pull her out.
idiom: wet through
By the time the firefighter finished putting out the blaze, his uniform was dripping wet.
- soaking wet
- dripping wet
- wet through
- completely wet
- bone dry
completely dry, the opposite of soaking wet
Usage Note
Often used with intensifiers: 'soaking wet', 'dripping wet', 'wet through'. These phrases are stronger than a plain 'wet'.
5. lacking the courage or strength to express strong opinions, stand up for oneself
lacking the courage or strength to express strong opinions, stand up for oneself, or take firm action
Padma told her brother not to be so wet and to speak up about the unfair teacher.
informal British: don't be so wet
Hassan's colleagues called him wet because he agreed to every demand without arguing.
Élise thought the film's main character was too wet to be a believable leader.
Suki thought her new boss was too wet to stand up to the company directors.
- don't be so wet
- too wet to
- a bit wet
- strong-willed
determined and not easily persuaded
- assertive
confidently expressing opinions
Usage Note
Disapproving and informal, mainly used in British English. Describes a person's character, not their physical state.
6. having drunk too much alcohol, to the point where normal physical control and ju
having drunk too much alcohol, to the point where normal physical control and judgement are lost
Christopher had a bit too much wine at the dinner party and ended up quite wet.
informal British: quite wet meaning drunk
The old fisherman was known for coming home wet after every Friday night at the pub.
Several guests were already wet by the time the wedding speeches began.
Ryo had one glass too many at the celebration and was properly wet by the end.
- quite wet
- get wet
- drunk
the standard neutral term; 'wet' is slang
- intoxicated
formal or medical term for being drunk
- sober
not drunk, in full control of one's faculties
Usage Note
An informal British slang term. Does not appear in more formal writing. 'Drunk' or 'intoxicated' are safer alternatives for learners.
all wet
idiomHaving a completely mistaken idea or opinion.
Maya thought the answer was 42, but she was all wet.
If you believe that story, you're all wet.
get your feet wet
idiomTo begin experiencing or doing something for the first time.
Diego got his feet wet by helping in the kitchen.
Sara wanted to get her feet wet in photography.
Young and lacking experience in a particular activity or field.
The new intern is still wet behind the ears.
Brian was wet behind the ears when he started teaching.
wet — noun
1. water or another liquid that has gathered on a surface, in the air, or inside a
water or another liquid that has gathered on a surface, in the air, or inside a material
After the rain stopped, the wet on the grass soaked through Sivan's trainers.
the + wet meaning the moisture on a surface
The morning wet on the car windscreen had frozen into a thin layer of ice.
Ryo could feel the wet of the damp towel against his skin as he dried his face.
The wet from the spilled drink spread across the wooden table before anyone caught it.
- the wet
- morning wet
- wet on
- dryness
the state of being free from water or liquid
Usage Note
Usually used with the definite article ('the wet') to refer to visible moisture. This is an uncountable noun in this sense.
2. weather in which rain is falling, or the rain itself considered as a type of wea
weather in which rain is falling, or the rain itself considered as a type of weather
The children played indoors all afternoon because they could not go out in the wet.
in the wet = in rainy weather
The delivery driver hates driving in the wet because the roads become slippery.
The zookeeper brought the animals inside to protect them from the wet.
Dario checked the forecast before heading out into the wet without a coat.
- in the wet
- the wet
- out of the wet
- rain
more direct and common; 'the wet' is slightly more informal
- rainy weather
more explicit and formal
- dry
dry weather conditions; often used as 'the dry' in similar patterns
Usage Note
Always used with 'the' — 'the wet' as a mass noun for rainy conditions. Common in British English.
3. a person who lacks strength of character and is easily persuaded or unwilling to
a person who lacks strength of character and is easily persuaded or unwilling to express firm opinions
The team leader called his assistant a wet for never disagreeing with anyone.
countable noun: a wet
Luca said the new manager was a bit of a wet who let staff make all the decisions.
In school, the students teased the quiet boy and called him a wet.
Wren refused to be treated as a wet and demanded a fair share of the prize money.
- a wet
- a bit of a wet
- called him a wet
- tough cookie
informal, a strong and determined person
Usage Note
A disapproving informal noun, almost always used with 'a' as a countable noun. Common in British school and workplace settings.
4. someone in the British Conservative Party who holds moderate or liberal politica
someone in the British Conservative Party who holds moderate or liberal political views, rather than extreme right-wing opinions
The wets in the party argued for higher spending on public services than the hardliners wanted.
plural: wets as a political faction
During the 1980s, Conservative wets were often criticised by the prime minister for being too soft.
A well-known wet in parliament wrote a newspaper article calling for more centrist policies.
The local newspaper described the MP as one of the few remaining wets in the cabinet.
- Conservative wet
- the wets
- wet faction
Usage Note
A political label from British English, particularly associated with the Conservative Party of the 1980s-1990s. Not used in American politics. The term contrasts with 'dries' (right-wing hardliners).
wet — verb
1. to put water or another liquid onto something, or cause something to become wet
to put water or another liquid onto something, or cause something to become wet — for example, wetting a sponge before cleaning, or wetting your hair before washing it
The florist wet the sponge at the bottom of the flower arrangement to keep the stems fresh.
wet + object: wet the sponge
Baraka wetted his hair under the tap before applying shampoo.
The baker wet her fingers with water before shaping the soft bread dough.
collocation: wet + body part + with + liquid
Sivan wet the cloth and wiped the dust off the bookshelf in one smooth motion.
The gardener wet the soil around the new plants before covering them with mulch.
- wet your hair
- wet a cloth
- wet the sponge
- wet your lips
- wet the soil
- dry
to remove water or liquid, make dry
Grammar Patterns
wet + object
Usage Note
A regular verb (wet — wetted — wetted) but also has an irregular form (wet — wet — wet) that is widely used. Both forms are accepted: 'He wet/wetted his hair before cutting it.'
Common Mistakes
2. to accidentally release urine into one's clothing or nappy, especially used when
to accidentally release urine into one's clothing or nappy, especially used when talking about young children or pets
The toddler wet his trousers because he could not reach the bathroom in time.
wet + clothing: wet his trousers
The puppy wet the kitchen floor three times during the first night in its new home.
The night-shift nurse gently cleaned the elderly patient after he wet himself.
reflexive: wet himself / herself
Ana told the nursery teacher that her little brother had wet his nappy during naptime.
- wet yourself
- wet his nappy
- wet the floor
- wet the bed
Grammar Patterns
wet + object (clothing, nappy)
Usage Note
A polite or gentle way to describe accidental urination. Common for babies, young children, pets, and elderly or ill people. 'Wet oneself' implies a loss of bladder control rather than a deliberate action.
Common Mistakes
3. to release urine in one's bed while sleeping, usually without intending to — typ
to release urine in one's bed while sleeping, usually without intending to — typically said of children who have not yet gained full night-time bladder control
The five-year-old still wets the bed most nights, but the doctor says this is normal.
habitual: still wets the bed
Naoko's youngest daughter stopped wetting the bed at the age of four.
The paediatrician reassured the worried parents that bed-wetting is common in young children.
derived noun: bed-wetting
Jun felt embarrassed after wetting the bed during the overnight school trip.
- wet the bed
- wetting the bed
- bed-wetting
- stop wetting the bed
- have a night-time accident
a gentler, less direct phrase used by parents and caregivers
Grammar Patterns
wet + the bed
Usage Note
This almost always appears as 'wet the bed' as a fixed phrase. The noun form 'bed-wetting' is also common. The past tense can be 'wet the bed' (irregular) or 'wetted the bed' (regular).
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe the presence of water, but they differ in degree and use. 'Wet' is the broadest and most common term, covering everything from slightly wet to soaking. 'Damp' means slightly but noticeably wet, often in an unwanted way — a damp towel or a damp basement. 'Moist' is similar to damp but more neutral or even positive in food contexts (a moist cake), though some people find the word unpleasant in other uses. 'Humid' specifically describes air that contains a lot of water vapour, not a surface or object. For example: 'The grass was still wet from the rain, so the children's feet were damp after walking across it. The air felt humid, and the cake in the kitchen stayed moist.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'wet' comes from Old English 'wǣt', which meant 'moist, rainy, liquid'. It is related to the Old English word 'wæter' (water), and can be traced back further to the Proto-Germanic root *wētaz ('wet, moist') and the Proto-Indo-European root *wed- ('water, wet'). The sense of 'weak, timid' developed in British slang in the early 1900s, and the political sense ('moderate Conservative') emerged in the 1980s as a contrast to the 'dries' on the right wing of the party.