MEANING
1. To lose firmness and droop, as a plant exposed to heat, dryness, or disease.
2. To lose energy, confidence, or force, figuratively weakening under pressure or disappointment.
Use it for
Describe drooping freshness or fading resolve.Lets a scene show energy or courage visibly sagging, echoing plant imagery.
Words that belong together
- wilt in the heat
- wilt from lack of water
- wilt under pressure
- wilted leaves
On the page
The basil wilted beside the hot stove before dinner was ready.
Her confidence wilted when the room fell silent.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- wilt
- Past tense
- wilted
- Past participle
- wilted
- Present participle
- wilting
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- wilt
- Present continuous
- am/is/are wilting
- Present perfect
- have/has wilted
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been wilting
- Past
- wilted
- Past continuous
- was/were wilting
- Past perfect
- had wilted
- Past perfect continuous
- had been wilting
- Future
- will wilt
- Future continuous
- will be wilting
- Future perfect
- will have wilted
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been wilting
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
The literal plant sense is common; the figurative sense applies to energy, confidence, resolve, or momentum. Sense 2: Figurative use extends plant drooping to a person, effort, or resolve losing vigor.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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