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
Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 June 2025
The president also seemed to take issue with reports from Chinese officials that the U.S. had initiated the tete-a-tete.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
There should be more to a Europa League quarter-final than a verbal tete-a-tete between a United goalkeeper and a former United midfielder who spent the first leg as an unused substitute.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 11 Apr. 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
Now, though, both candidates will have White House records to back up, leaving it unclear whether either will be able to seize the offensive -- and if one or the other will end up stuck on their back foot for the 90-minute tete-a-tete.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 26 June 2024
But truly do not feel any pressure to have that tete-a-tete anytime soon.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Most likely, sources say, the two will have a tete-a-tete on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 July 2023
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Noun
His tete-a-tete with Tebogo continued after the Olympics when the pair raced at the Diamond League meets in Zurich and Brussels.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 June 2025
The president also seemed to take issue with reports from Chinese officials that the U.S. had initiated the tete-a-tete.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
There should be more to a Europa League quarter-final than a verbal tete-a-tete between a United goalkeeper and a former United midfielder who spent the first leg as an unused substitute.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 11 Apr. 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
Now, though, both candidates will have White House records to back up, leaving it unclear whether either will be able to seize the offensive -- and if one or the other will end up stuck on their back foot for the 90-minute tete-a-tete.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 26 June 2024
But truly do not feel any pressure to have that tete-a-tete anytime soon.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Most likely, sources say, the two will have a tete-a-tete on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 July 2023
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 24 Jul. 2025.
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