1
: a small or insignificant amount or degree : bit
might give him some water and a tad to eatC. T. Walker
2
: a small child
especially : boy
Phrases
a tad
: somewhat, rather
looked a tad bigger than meLarry Hodgson

Examples of tad in a Sentence

there's more than just a tad of hyperbole in the critics' praise for the promising young pianist grandfather never tires of telling us about the days when he was just a tad
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But her Fosca is a tad too, well, conventionally appealing, for the show fully to work. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025 Given the packages for rental relievers elsewhere, this return feels a tad light. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 31 July 2025 In June, inflation rose slightly, by 2.7% from a year ago, with prices increasing a tad more in categories especially affected by tariffs: clothes, appliances and toys. Alina Selyukh, NPR, 29 July 2025 Biscuits with the boss look a tad different in the first look at season 4 of Ted Lasso. EW.com, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tad

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect, toad, from Middle English tode — more at toad

First Known Use

circa 1877, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tad was circa 1877

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tad. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

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