tack

1 of 4

verb

ˈtak 

tacked; tacking; tacks

transitive verb

1

: attach

tack on some sequins for pizzazz

especially : to fasten or affix with tacks

tack a notice to a pole

tacking down a stairway carpet

2

: to join or add in a slight or hasty manner

—usually used with on or onto

… the upbeat ending, tacked on to a book that cries out for a tragic one.

—Julian Symons

3

a

: to add as a supplement or something extra

—usually used with on or onto

tacked fees onto the price

The Marlins tacked on five runs in the bottom of the eighth …

—Buster Olney

b

: to add (a rider) to a parliamentary bill

provisions tacked to an appropriation bill

4

: to change the direction of (a sailing ship) when sailing close-hauled by turning the bow to the wind and shifting the sails so as to fall off on the other side at about the same angle as before

intransitive verb

1

a

: to tack a sailing ship

We tacked repeatedly as we sailed toward the harbor.

b

of a ship : to change to an opposite tack by turning the bow to the wind

a ship that tacks easily

c

: to follow a course against the wind by a series of tacks

Boredom was the chief enemy as the ships tacked to and fro.

—Nigel Calder

2

a

: to follow a zigzag course

tacked through the crowd

b

: to modify one's policy or attitude abruptly

With the coming of Ronald Reagan to power, Nixon tacked hard right—an old instinct.

—Sidney Blumenthal

tacker noun

tack

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

: a small short sharp-pointed nail usually having a broad flat head

2

a

: the direction of a ship with respect to the trim of her sails

starboard tack

b

: the run of a sailing ship on one tack

c

: a change when close-hauled from the starboard to the port tack or vice versa

d

: a zigzag movement on land

e

: a course or method of action

especially : one sharply divergent from that previously followed

3

: any of various usually temporary stitches

4

: the lower forward corner of a fore-and-aft sail

5

: a sticky or adhesive quality or condition

tack

3 of 4

noun (2)

: stable gear

especially : articles of harness (such as saddle and bridle) for use on a saddle horse

tack

4 of 4

noun (3)

: hardtack sense 1

Did you know?

Do you change tack or tact?

Although some believe the word tact is short for tactics in phrases like "change tact" or "try a different tact," the correct word in such contexts is tack.

Tack in "change tack" and "try a different tack" means "a course or method of action especially when sharply divergent from that previously followed.”

Tack developed this meaning from its nautical applications. In sailing, tack can refer to the direction that a ship or boat is sailing in as it moves at an angle to the direction of the wind; or to a change from one direction to another direction; or to the distance traveled while sailing in a particular direction.

Tack developed the "course or method of action" meaning near the end of the 17th century; within 100 or so years, the phrase "change tack" was being used with the figurative meaning it has today.

While there is also a long history of people using tact where tack belongs, the use is widely shunned by usage guides, which means you might want to avoid it.

Synonyms

Verb

• add
• adjoin
• annex
• append
• subjoin

Noun (1)

• approach
• fashion
• form
• how
• manner
• method
• methodology
• recipe
• strategy
• style
• system
• tactics
• technique
• way

Examples of tack in a Sentence

Verb

She tacked a poster on the wall.

A message was tacked to the board.

We had to tack repeatedly as we sailed toward the harbor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Razorbacks tacked on two runs in the third inning, with all the action coming with two outs. —Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 13 Apr. 2024

Schools then tacked the bills for those course materials onto students’ overall fees. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

The Royals tacked on another run in the sixth and three more in the seventh. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024

In mid-February, similar language curbing wind energy was tacked on to a larger energy omnibus bill that had momentum in the Legislature, and was eventually passed by lawmakers. —Emily L. Mahoney, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

Friday’s vote had been tacked on to the Spring Training meeting, where members attended sessions on the likes of digital fund-raising. —Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024

As the Detroit Free Press reported in August 2022, the automaker was tacking $1,500 onto many new vehicles' prices to cover the connectivity package. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 29 Mar. 2024

Here are the potential schedule changes If the plan is approved by May 15, the additional days will be tacked onto the front end of the next two school years. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024

In 2021, the administration tacked on more time to thousands of borrowers’ repayment timelines. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024

Noun

Matt Zoller Seitz took a slightly different tack, addressing France directly from his desk at RogerEbert.com and begging Cannes Film Festival participants to cheer the film and save the US from itself. —Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 12 Apr. 2024

As misery in Gaza lingers, Israel has faced increasing pressure, including from its own top ally, the U.S., to change tack in the war, especially with regards to the delivery of humanitarian aid. —Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024

It was originally conceived as a series to be streamed on Disney+, but the company changed tack and decided to release the sequel as a feature in theaters. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024

Anyone writing about a man like Jacob Angeli-Chansley may be tempted by ridicule, but that’s not Kaufman’s tack. —Longreads, 22 Mar. 2024

So when Montana tried to change zoning at the state level, advocates like Mr. Cotton took a different tack. —Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024

But Temu took a different tack by showing up at the U.S.’s most high-profile ad space of the year: the Super Bowl. —Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024

The extra day can lead to a slight increase on the return for bonds whose interest is calculated based on the number of days in a year, since a leap year tacks on an extra day of interest. —Krystal Hur, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024

As Intel moved to incorporate graphic capabilities into its core processors, so Nvidia shifted tack and Huang defined his hunting zones. —Andrew Binns, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English takken, from tak

Noun (1)

Middle English tak fastener, rope tying down the windward corner of a sail, from Middle French (Norman dialect) taque; akin to Middle Dutch tac sharp point

Noun (2)

perhaps short for tackle

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1924, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tack

• tack claw
• tick-tack-toe
• ticky-tack
• tie tack

Kids Definition

tack

1 of 3 verb

ˈtak 

1

: to fasten or attach especially with tacks

2

: to join in a slight or hasty manner

3

: to add on in order to complete

4

a

: to change the direction of a sailing ship by shifting the sails

b

: to change from one tack to another

5

: to follow a zigzag course

tacker noun

tack

2 of 3 noun

1

: a small short sharp-pointed nail usually with a broad flat head

2

a

: the direction a ship is sailing as shown by the position the sails are set in

on the port tack

b

: a change of course from one tack to another

3

: a zigzag movement on land

4

: a course or method of action

try a new tack

5

: a slight or temporary sewing or fastening

tack

3 of 3 noun

: stable gear

especially : equipment (as a saddle and bridle) for use on a saddle horse

Legal Definition

tack

transitive verb

: to combine (a use, possession, or period of time) with that of another especially in order to satisfy the statutory time period for acquiring title to or a prescriptive easement in the property of a third party

successive adverse users in privity with prior adverse users can tack successive adverse possessions of land

—Hall v. Kerlee, 461 S.E.2d 911 (1995)