wee

1 of 2

adjective

ˈwē How to pronounce wee (audio)
Synonyms of wee
1
: very small : diminutive
2
: very early
wee hours of the morning

WEE

2 of 2

abbreviation

western equine encephalitis

Synonyms of wee

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Adjective

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Examples of wee in a Sentence

Adjective He's just a wee lad.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
All this simple man ever wanted was a pint of ale, a wee castle, and some respect. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 In some ways, the scene is a throwback to the days when Johnny Carson hosted the show before some media companies enlisted Arsenio Hall or Joan Rivers to try and knock him off his wee-hours throne. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026 Here in Singapore, many watched in the wee hours of the morning as Spain dominated Argentina, before breaking the deadlock in extra time. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 July 2026 And in the streets of Madrid — probably many other places in Spain as well — countless people spilled into the streets, celebrating Sunday’s victory long into the wee hours of Monday morning. — Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wee

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English we, from we, noun, little bit, from Old English wǣge weight; akin to Old English wegan to move, weigh — more at way

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wee was circa 1525

Phrases Containing wee

Rhymes for wee

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Browse Nearby Words

Wednesdays
wee
WEE
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Cite this Entry

“Wee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wee. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wee

adjective
ˈwē How to pronounce wee (audio)
1
: very small : tiny
2
: very early
the wee hours of the morning

Medical Definition

WEE

abbreviation
western equine encephalitis; western equine encephalomyelitis

More from Merriam-Webster on wee

Nglish: Translation of wee for Spanish Speakers

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