1
: a light blow especially with the hand or a flat instrument
2
: a light tapping often rhythmical sound
3
: something (such as butter) shaped into a small flat usually square individual portion
patted; patting
1
: to strike lightly with a flat instrument
2
: to flatten, smooth, or put into place or shape with light blows
3
: to tap or stroke gently with the hand to soothe, caress, or show approval
: to strike or beat gently
patent
point after touchdown
Examples of pat in a Sentence
Noun
She gave the dog a quick pat.
Adverb
after months of practicing for the competition, the cheerleaders have their moves down pat
Verb
The child gently patted the dog's head.
He patted my knee and told me everything would be fine.
He patted his hair down.
She patted the dough into a square.
He patted the lettuce dry with a paper towel.
Adjective
The movie's pat ending was a disappointment.
His explanation was too pat to be believable.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Just about everyone gets a little pat on the head from ESPN for a big home weekend, but cutesy wannabes don’t get featured on the road.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, 21 Apr. 2020
To use, soak the disc about 15 minutes, pat dry, and snap in place.
—Jean Kressy, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2019
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Both teams patted the star wideout on the back after he was loaded onto the cart.
—Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
The film stars Oscar winner Brendan Fraser as Phillip Vandarploeug, an ex-pat American actor living in Tokyo.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pat
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Oven-roast your sweet potatoes to serve with a pat of butter, blend them into soups and pies, and add them to breads and cakes.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Just about everyone gets a little pat on the head from ESPN for a big home weekend, but cutesy wannabes don’t get featured on the road.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Adverb
The 2016 draft was the last time the Bengals stayed pat through all seven rounds.
—Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, 21 Apr. 2020
To use, soak the disc about 15 minutes, pat dry, and snap in place.
—Jean Kressy, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2019
Verb
The clip, shared by Sarah Ingle (@saraheingle), a dedicated dog fosterer, shows seven-month-old Cookie Crisps nestled in her arms while Ingle gently pats her bottom.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Both teams patted the star wideout on the back after he was loaded onto the cart.
—Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
This run-in all seems too pat, too staged, too likely.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
The film stars Oscar winner Brendan Fraser as Phillip Vandarploeug, an ex-pat American actor living in Tokyo.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pat
Cite this Entry
“Pat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pat. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pat
1 of 3 noun1
: a light blow especially with the hand or a flat instrument
2
: a light tapping sound
3
: something (as butter) shaped into a small flat portion
pat
2 of 3 verb
patted; patting
1
: to strike lightly with the hand or a flat instrument : strike or beat gently
2
: to flatten, smooth, or shape with pats
3
: to tap or stroke gently with the hand to soothe or to show affection or approval
pat
3 of 3 adjective
patter; pattest
2
: learned exactly
have a lesson down pat
3
: firm entry 1 sense 2b, unyielding
stand pat
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