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

105 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

52 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

37 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

12 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

1 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

94 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

Compounds

P

pet peeve

• Informal

21 6.3

Something small that annoys you more than it annoys most people

P

pet shop

15 1.0

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

T

teacher's pet

• Informal

14 3.1

A student who gets special attention from the teacher

P

pet food

12 1.0

Things pets eat, like meals for dogs or cats

P

pet name

• Informal

12 2.1

A special short name people use for someone they care about

E

exotic pet

4 4.4

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

P

pet sitter

2 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 sitting

1 3.0

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

P

PET scanner

• Specialized

1 3.5

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

P

pet stain

• NSFW

1 2.4

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

P

pet keet

5.8

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

How Gentle

to pet

101 1.0

to stroke

85 1.9

to pat

105 1.0

tap

57 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology