1
: a small or insignificant amount or degree : bit
… might give him some water and a tad to eat …C. T. Walker
2
: a small child
especially : boy
Phrases
a tad
: somewhat, rather
He looked a tad bigger than me.Larry 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
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.
Before the former became a modern classic, its debut was considered a touch plodding and a tad dark. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025 Looking for something a tad bit smaller to take with you to the Cabo girls trip that finally made it out of the group chat? Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025 But, even with this major shortcoming, my home still felt much cleaner, smelled fresher, and honestly felt even a tad bit more peaceful at the end of the day. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025 The saloon’s design language, up until now, has been a tad on the conservative side, but the concept is as audacious as can be. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tad

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

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Cite this Entry

“Tad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tad. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

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