ˌtet-ə-ˈtet 
ˌtāt-ə-ˈtāt
ˌtāt-ə-ˈtāt
sense 2 is also ˈtēt-ə-ˌtēt
1
: a private conversation between two persons
2
: a short piece of furniture (such as a sofa) intended to seat two persons especially facing each other
: in private
Examples of tête-à-tête in a Sentence
Noun
had a quick tête-à-tête with my neighbor before heading off to work
Adverb
met tête-à-tête with the student's parents to discuss his disciplinary problems in class
Recent Examples on the Web
Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2025
Later, there is caper-like comedy at a funeral home, which then sobers in a poignant tete-a-tete between Yun-ji and Min-yeong, astute revelations of the broken homes that shaped our young heroines, a climactic riot of slapstick destruction at an emergency school meeting and more.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Another video captured Xi, Modi and Putin engaging in a lighthearted tete-a-tete on the Summit’s sidelines.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Sep. 2025
Aside from that tete-a-tete, there was some superb quality on show.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 28 July 2025
These two have gone tete-a-tete against the top pair and are starting to come out on top.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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Noun
Texas' initial redistricting saga launched a national tete-a-tete, inspiring other states to redraw their own maps.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2025
Later, there is caper-like comedy at a funeral home, which then sobers in a poignant tete-a-tete between Yun-ji and Min-yeong, astute revelations of the broken homes that shaped our young heroines, a climactic riot of slapstick destruction at an emergency school meeting and more.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Another video captured Xi, Modi and Putin engaging in a lighthearted tete-a-tete on the Summit’s sidelines.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Sep. 2025
Aside from that tete-a-tete, there was some superb quality on show.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 28 July 2025
These two have gone tete-a-tete against the top pair and are starting to come out on top.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tête-à-tête.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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