1
: a small or insignificant amount or degree : bit
might give him some water and a tad to eatC. T. Walker
2
: a small child
especially : boy
Phrases
a tad
: somewhat, rather
looked a tad bigger than meLarry Hodgson

Examples of tad in a Sentence

there's more than just a tad of hyperbole in the critics' praise for the promising young pianist grandfather never tires of telling us about the days when he was just a tad
Recent Examples on the Web The ratings impact was a tad overblown, but Swift directly affected NFL coffers since her 53 U.S. shows in 2023 all took place at NFL stadiums. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 13 Aug. 2024 In the grand scheme of things, this might seem a tad underwhelming compared to Garmin’s competitors. Victoria Song, The Verge, 6 Aug. 2024 Think leather tote bags to stylish planners that take the blow of constant homework just a tad. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 1 Aug. 2024 McKeown’s wait would last a tad longer than everyone else’s in the building, but that certainly didn’t diminish the celebration that followed her masterful win. Rick Maese, Washington Post, 31 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for tad 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect, toad, from Middle English tode — more at toad

First Known Use

circa 1877, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tad was circa 1877

Dictionary Entries Near tad

Cite this Entry

“Tad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tad. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on tad

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