plural dads
informal
: a male parent : father entry 1 sense 1
My mom swam and played soccer, my dad surfed, and my brother played basketball.Shannon Griggs
Don't get me wrong, I'm a good dad who maintains a cheerful household and greets parenthood with a smile and an open heart.Ron Harris
often used as a name
When is Dad getting home?
Dad, can you give me a ride?

Examples of dad in a Sentence

Her mom and dad both said she can't go. my dad did most of the cooking for dinner because he usually got home earlier than my mom
Recent Examples on the Web Barker is also a dad to daughter Alabama, 17, and son Landon, 19, plus stepdaughter Atiana De La Hoya, 24, with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 29 Nov. 2023 Reese Williams initially wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force, following in the footsteps of his dad and brother, who were in the military. Clara McMichael, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023 Aria holds her own opposite the very experienced Mark Ruffalo, who plays her dad, Daniel, and Hugh Laurie in the role of her great-uncle Etienne. Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023 Instead, the director gets right down to business, opening with a wordless chase sequence in which a sad dad (Joel Kinnaman) in a corny Christmas sweater sprints after a pair of speeding cars. Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 Nov. 2023 Also a standout is Wendy Maples as Claire, Catherine’s older sister, who has escaped the burden of caring for their dad but hopes to make it up to Catherine by inviting her to come live with her in New York. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023 Among them was Britney's conservatorship that had kept her under watch of her dad, Jamie, which Britney claimed caused issues between her and Jamie Lynn. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Nov. 2023 Caught by his dad and challenged to use non-verbal cues, Michael eventually gets the answer he's been searching for. Nafeesah Allen, Parents, 26 Nov. 2023 The kids were challenging, his friends didn’t understand that being a stay-at-home dad was actually a job. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dad.' 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 baby talk

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dad was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near dad

Cite this Entry

“Dad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dad. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on dad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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