tab

1 of 2

noun

ˈtab 

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

c

: appendage, extension

especially : one of a series of small pendants forming a decorative border or edge of a garment

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

e

: a design element of a software interface (as for a browser or spreadsheet) that creates different working areas that can be displayed or edited individually

One striking difference in Chrome is how it handles tabs, which display a single Web page.

—Walter S. Mossberg

also : the graphic representation of a tab (see sense 1a(2)) that identifies each such separate working area

Double-click on the tab to rename the spreadsheet.

2

[partly short for table entry 1; partly from sense 1]

a

: close surveillance : watch

keep tabs on trends

b

: a creditor's statement : bill, check

c

: cost

the tab for the new program

3

[short for tabulator] : a key on a keyboard that indents text by a preset amount

4

[by shortening]

a

: tablet

b

: tabloid

tab

2 of 2

verb

tabbed; tabbing

transitive verb

1

: to furnish or ornament with tabs

2

: to single out : designate

3

: tabulate

Synonyms of tab

Noun

• bill
• account
• statement
• document
• rate
• check

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

Noun

Rather than visiting four landing pages and opening 10 browser tabs, an AI assistant can compress hours of research into a 150-word answer. — Susan Ganeshan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Interestingly, a full-tab low-impedance design drives system round-trip efficiency up to 96 percent to limit energy waste. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

The longtime defensive backs coach, who came to Washington from Minnesota, was tabbed to overhaul a unit that was a liability in numerous games over the last two years thanks to a stagnant pass rush and leaky secondary. — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

After the Buckeyes topped the Longhorns, 14-7, in 2025, Manning was tabbed an automatic flop and Sayin destined to chart the path to another national title for OSU. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tab

• pick up the tab
• pick up the tab/bill/check
• pull tab
• tab key

Rhymes for tab

• ab
• cab
• crab
• dab
• drab
• fab
• gab
• grab
• jab
• lab
• mab
• nab

Kids Definition

tab

1 of 2 noun

ˈtab 

1

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

b

: bill entry 3 sense 2, check

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

Medical Definition

tab

noun

ˈtab 

: tablet