1 B2 neutral
To gradually stop a baby or young animal from depending on breast milk.
"The vet advised them to slowly wean the kittens off their mother's milk."
separable
wean off
B2 neutral separable transitive
To gradually accustom someone (or oneself) to doing without something they depend on.
In plain English
To slowly stop using or needing something, a little bit at a time.
What does "wean off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To gradually reduce someone's dependence on a substance, habit, or way of thinking.
"Her doctor helped her wean herself off sleeping pills over several months."
separable
3 C1 idiomatic neutral
To gradually withdraw a country, industry, or system from its dependence on something.
"The government pledged to wean the economy off fossil fuels within a decade."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move a baby away from breast milk gradually — the figurative extension to any kind of dependency is very natural.
Actually means
To slowly stop using or needing something, a little bit at a time.
Usage tip
Originally referred to stopping breastfeeding by gradually reducing feeds. Now widely used figuratively for breaking any kind of dependency — on drugs, sugar, technology, habits, etc. Common in both British and American English. Often used reflexively (wean yourself off).
Words that pair with "wean off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sugar medication caffeine nicotine drugs alcohol junk food painkillers
How to conjugate "wean off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
wean off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
weans off
he/she/it
Past simple
weaned off
yesterday
Past participle
weaned off
have + pp
-ing form
weaning off
continuous
Hear "wean off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "wean off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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