1
2
3
: a string or ribbon stretched breast-high above the finish line of a race
4
: a narrow woven fabric
taped; taping; tapes
1
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape
2
: to record (something, such as sound or video) on magnetic tape
tape an interview
The show was taped before a live audience.
: to record something on magnetic tape
He was already taping when I walked into the studio.
broadly
: record sense intransitive
1
: recorded on tape
tape music
2
: intended for use with recording (such as magnetic) tape
a tape cartridge
Examples of tape in a Sentence
Noun
His eyeglasses are held together with tape.
The show was recorded on tape.
I was listening to a tape in the car.
She stuck a tape in the VCR.
Verb
She taped a note to the refrigerator.
I taped the box shut.
The show is taped before a live audience.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Vautin has created a true stationery smorgasbord, stuffed with creamy notebooks, wax seals, fountain pens and inks, wee porcelain bowls, mini-colored-pencil sets, gift wrap, highlighter pens, Hobonichi planners, a bounty of illustrated stickers, and washi-tape rolls by the dozen.
—Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
Karamo and Steve Wilkos have both completed production, with the new episodes that have been taped airing through the summer.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023
Artisan guilds and filmmakers balked at the academy’s decision to pre-tape eight award categories, including original score and film editing, to limit the run time to three hours.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for tape
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The cleanest projection is as a starting right guard with emergency tackle value, though a team that believes in the tackle tape could still give him a shot outside.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Vautin has created a true stationery smorgasbord, stuffed with creamy notebooks, wax seals, fountain pens and inks, wee porcelain bowls, mini-colored-pencil sets, gift wrap, highlighter pens, Hobonichi planners, a bounty of illustrated stickers, and washi-tape rolls by the dozen.
—Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Kerouac wrote On the Road over the course of three weeks in April 1951 using paper taped together.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
Karamo and Steve Wilkos have both completed production, with the new episodes that have been taped airing through the summer.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
This time, all 23 categories will be presented live at the event after last year's decision to pre-tape eight competitive categories sparked backlash from industry professionals.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023
Artisan guilds and filmmakers balked at the academy’s decision to pre-tape eight award categories, including original score and film editing, to limit the run time to three hours.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for tape
Cite this Entry
“Tape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tape. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tape
1 of 2 noun1
: a narrow band of woven fabric
2
: a string stretched breast-high above the finishing line of a race
3
: a narrow flexible strip or band
especially
: magnetic tape
4
: a recording made on magnetic tape
tape
2 of 2 verb
taped; taping
1
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape
2
: to measure with a tape measure
3
Medical Definition
tape
1 of 2 noun
: a narrow band of woven fabric
especially
: adhesive tape
tape
2 of 2 transitive verb
taped; taping
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape and especially adhesive tape
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