often attributive
1
a
: a short projecting device: such as
(1)
: a small flap or loop by which something may be grasped or pulled
(2)
: a projection from a card used as an aid in filing
b
: a small insert, addition, or remnant
d
: a small auxiliary airfoil hinged to a control surface (such as a trailing edge) to help stabilize an airplane in flight see airplane illustration
2
[partly short for table entry 1; partly from sense 1]
a
: close surveillance : watch
keep tabs on trends
c
: cost
the tab for the new program
3
[short for tabulator]
: a key on a keyboard that indents text by a preset amount
tabbed; tabbing
Examples of tab in a Sentence
Noun
Insert the tab into this slot to close the box.
a notebook with index tabs
The tab on the zipper is broken.
He ran up a $200 bar tab.
He put the drinks on his tab.
Verb
After you type your name in the first box, you can move to the next box by tabbing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 13 Apr. 2024
The biggest disconnect, though, is that the city remains unwilling to pick up the tab for initial expenses on a project that may not pan out.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
In contrast, each tab in Apple’s Numbers is a wide-open canvas and behaves like Page’s Page Layout mode.
—Edward Mendelson, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
From Reuters: Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab investor KLP may ask the automaker’s annual general meeting to address CEO Elon Musk’s reluctance to engage in collective bargaining, the Norwegian pension fund said on Thursday.
—Amber Dasilva / Jalopnik, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
Organizers are confident the federal government will pick up the tab for the additional buses.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
View in new tab What time does solar eclipse 2024 viewing start in Indiana, near me in Kentucky
What time will the solar eclipse 2024 path start in Kentucky?
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2024
Last week, TikTok was advertising a Spring Sale in the app’s Shop tab, offering discounts up to 30 percent (a combination of TikTok subsidies and sellers slashing prices) and free shipping on some items.
—Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 1 Apr. 2024
The city is picking up the tab for 11 separate lawyers defending the claim, including attorneys for Cisterra and CGA Capital.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
Nena Farrell, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2024
Last week’s news that the FDA has delayed its decision on Eli Lilly’s treatment for Alzheimer’s disease had only a modest effect on the company’s valuation, suggesting the market had considerably lowered its expectations for a medicine once tabbed for blockbuster success.
—Damian Garde, STAT, 12 Mar. 2024
Clarence Hill was tabbed in the breaking news category for his story on Ezekiel Elliott’s departure from the Dallas Cowboys.
—Staff Report, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Mar. 2024
He’ll be tabbed to replace Kupchak, who’s moving into an advisory role after serving as the team’s president of basketball operations/general manager since 2018.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024
Spencer, the man who nearly brought the team back just before the pandemic, was tabbed to be the team’s head coach.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024
Harbaugh was suspended twice for three games, each for two separate NCAA investigations, and Moore was tabbed to lead one of the first three games (Bowling Green) and then all three of the final games of the year — at Penn State, at Maryland, vs. Ohio State — with the season on the line.
—Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2024
Fred Carter, a 1949 Frankfort graduate, was tabbed by then-Frankfort mayor Harold Woodruff to lead a steering committee and aid the Hollywood producers, who picked Case Arena for its size and its home appearance from the outside, resembling a college arena.
—The Indianapolis Star, 12 Jan. 2024
The Tigers also tabbed Sandy Acevedo and Marco Yepez as the managers for the two teams in the Dominican Summer League.
—Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 23 Jan. 2024
Noun
Do my dietary restrictions and concerns take a back seat when the boss is picking up the tab?
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 13 Apr. 2024
The biggest disconnect, though, is that the city remains unwilling to pick up the tab for initial expenses on a project that may not pan out.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
In contrast, each tab in Apple’s Numbers is a wide-open canvas and behaves like Page’s Page Layout mode.
—Edward Mendelson, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
From Reuters: Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab investor KLP may ask the automaker’s annual general meeting to address CEO Elon Musk’s reluctance to engage in collective bargaining, the Norwegian pension fund said on Thursday.
—Amber Dasilva / Jalopnik, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
Organizers are confident the federal government will pick up the tab for the additional buses.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
View in new tab What time does solar eclipse 2024 viewing start in Indiana, near me in Kentucky
What time will the solar eclipse 2024 path start in Kentucky?
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2024
Last week, TikTok was advertising a Spring Sale in the app’s Shop tab, offering discounts up to 30 percent (a combination of TikTok subsidies and sellers slashing prices) and free shipping on some items.
—Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 1 Apr. 2024
The city is picking up the tab for 11 separate lawyers defending the claim, including attorneys for Cisterra and CGA Capital.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
Verb
The Special Items & Powers tab houses some items that were in the Wallet before, like Forest Magic and getting a key to the Sewers.
—Nena Farrell, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2024
Last week’s news that the FDA has delayed its decision on Eli Lilly’s treatment for Alzheimer’s disease had only a modest effect on the company’s valuation, suggesting the market had considerably lowered its expectations for a medicine once tabbed for blockbuster success.
—Damian Garde, STAT, 12 Mar. 2024
Clarence Hill was tabbed in the breaking news category for his story on Ezekiel Elliott’s departure from the Dallas Cowboys.
—Staff Report, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Mar. 2024
He’ll be tabbed to replace Kupchak, who’s moving into an advisory role after serving as the team’s president of basketball operations/general manager since 2018.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024
Spencer, the man who nearly brought the team back just before the pandemic, was tabbed to be the team’s head coach.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024
Harbaugh was suspended twice for three games, each for two separate NCAA investigations, and Moore was tabbed to lead one of the first three games (Bowling Green) and then all three of the final games of the year — at Penn State, at Maryland, vs. Ohio State — with the season on the line.
—Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2024
Fred Carter, a 1949 Frankfort graduate, was tabbed by then-Frankfort mayor Harold Woodruff to lead a steering committee and aid the Hollywood producers, who picked Case Arena for its size and its home appearance from the outside, resembling a college arena.
—The Indianapolis Star, 12 Jan. 2024
The Tigers also tabbed Sandy Acevedo and Marco Yepez as the managers for the two teams in the Dominican Summer League.
—Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 23 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tab
Cite this Entry
“Tab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tab. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tab
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a short flap or tag used as an aid in filing, pulling, or hanging
b
: something inserted
2
a
: close watch
keep tabs on fashion trends
3
: a key on a keyboard especially for arranging information in columns
tab
2 of 2 verb
tabbed; tabbing
1
: to furnish or ornament with tabs
2
: to select or name for a special purpose : designate
tabbed as the team's next captain
3
: to hit the tab key on a keyboard
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share