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
Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Police later told local reporters that security tapes from the day Bethany disappeared did not show the 11-year-old inside the mall.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
At the scene, police had taped off a vehicle and a U‑Haul truck in the parking lot as part of the investigation.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 27 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.
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Noun
That fall, an old friend reached out to my father through the underground communications network, dialling a number printed on a faded piece of plastic Dymo tape and speaking to him from a public phone booth.
—Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Police later told local reporters that security tapes from the day Bethany disappeared did not show the 11-year-old inside the mall.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
The interview was taped, with the bulk of it airing Thursday and more of it airing on Friday.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
At the scene, police had taped off a vehicle and a U‑Haul truck in the parking lot as part of the investigation.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 27 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 29 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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