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
Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026
Hart will begrudgingly wear tape on his injured thumb.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
After close to a year of being bubble-wrapped and duct-taped up, the dog and freezer remained in his kitchen.
—Corky Carroll, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tape
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.
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Noun
Horn heard one of the demos by chance after Rabin accidentally left a tape playing while going to the bathroom.
—Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026
Hart will begrudgingly wear tape on his injured thumb.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
Verb
Her profession has turned her into a serious shoe collector, with a closet of 100 pairs neatly organized in boxes, each marked with a photo of the shoes taped to the outside.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
After close to a year of being bubble-wrapped and duct-taped up, the dog and freezer remained in his kitchen.
—Corky Carroll, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Adjective
There’s not all that much to this pre-tape, really, outside the fun turn of Sarah Sherman’s character getting stuck halfway between human and frog morph from sneezing and farting at the same time.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tape
Cite this Entry
“Tape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tape. Accessed 11 May. 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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