to pet

Examples

• All

• I held it close to my heart, speaking softly and trying to pet its head.

  Fiction book (2000)

• A 5-year-old girl is overcoming her fear of dogs by learning to pet and to walk.

  Academic text (1997)

• You should pet the cat the whole time.

• All you do is pet her twice a day.

  Playing by Heart (1998)

• - Can he feel if I pet him?

  ParaNorman (2012)

• Soon he was letting me pet him on his back.

  Fiction book (2000)

• And I could pet her and spoil her, as I wanted to spoil you.

  Gone with the Wind (1939)

• The girl came forward and reached a tentative hand to pet the rabbit, as if afraid it would bite.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Lex starts to pet the hound, and one by one the rest of the dogs shut up.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Instead, she bent down to pet Ulysses, who lay slobbering at her feet.

  Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

P

to pat

vsto pet

110 1.0

To touch gently to show comfort or approval

involves longer gentle stroking to show affection rather than a quick tap

C

to caress

vsto pet

55 3.4

To touch someone or something gently to show love

is the everyday gentle stroking used to show affection

F

to fondle

vsto pet

• NSFW

41 7.4

To touch or stroke gently to show love, often in a sexual way

is nonsexual affectionate stroking rather than sexual touching

N

to nuzzle

vsto pet

11 3.4

To gently press the nose or face against someone to show affection

is a hand-based gentle stroking action, not a nose or face rubbing

S

to scritch

vsto pet

• Informal

8.8

To gently rub an animal's fur to make it feel good

is general affectionate stroking, not specifically scratching animals

Antonyms

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

N

neglect

100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

Compounds

P

pet peeve

• Informal

19 6.3

Something small that annoys you more than it annoys most people

P

pet shop

13 1.0

A shop that sells animals and supplies for people to keep as pets

P

pet name

• Informal

11 2.1

A special short name people use for someone they care about

T

teacher's pet

• Informal

10 3.1

A student who gets special attention from the teacher

P

pet food

9 1.0

Things pets eat, like meals for dogs or cats

E

exotic pet

3 4.4

An animal from another country that people keep in their home for company, like a snake or parrot

P

pet sitter

1 2.7

A person who cares for pets while their owners are away

L

losing a pet

1 4.2

Feeling deep sadness after a pet dies

P

PET scanner

• Specialized

1 3.5

Machine that makes pictures showing activity in the body to find cancer

P

pet sitting

1 3.0

Looking after someone's pet at their home while the owner is away

P

pet keet

5.8

A small bird like a parakeet that people keep as a pet

P

pet stain

• NSFW

2.4

A mark on carpet or furniture made by an animal, often from pee

How Gentle

to pet

54 1.0

to stroke

84 1.9

to pat

110 1.0

tap

66 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology