pads 1 of 3

plural of pad
1
as in notebooks
a number of sheets of writing paper glued together at one edge the waitress keeps a pad in the pocket of her apron to write down orders

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
as in buffers
something that serves as a protective barrier a pad on the chair to keep it from getting scratched

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

pads

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of pad

pads

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of pad

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pads
Noun
There are also a couple of bike bundles which include accessories like a passenger guardrail, seat pads and foot boards, pannier bags, and a front rack. — New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026 Biodance is offering up to 43% off select products, including eye patches, serums, toner pads, face masks, creams and more. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 Dreame’s budget-friendly L40s Ultra has storage for up to 100 days of dust, and can clean its own mop pads. — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026 Until then, Hill will keep his workouts going and wait for the chance to strap on pads and start playing in the NFL once again – that is if a team wants his services in 2026. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 This changes the capacitance of the two capacitive pads beneath it, registering an input. — ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026 These microstructures generate molecular-level van der Waals forces that bind the foot pads to surrounding surfaces. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026 It’s equipped with a cushioned running belt and shock-absorbing pads for smooth walks. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026 In this case, there’s no swiping or rubbing at all—just let the pads sit and soak in for a few minutes before gently patting in the excess. — Jenny Jin, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
In other words, the additional money that our companies are shelling out to cover higher memory costs ultimately pads these three companies’ bottom lines. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 21 June 2026 Adding the killer’s voice just pads an already too-long book. — Maren Longbella, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 Not to say there aren’t some clunkers, most notably a jokey take-me-out-to-the-ballgame baseball number that pads the second act, but the Flaherty-Ahrens score was and is Ragtime‘s signature achievement. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025 The exchange is indicative of this odd, frustrating, occasionally intriguing project, which pads out scarce but real nuggets of insight with leading questions and endless clips. — Alison Herman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025 Stanfield is the second new face named this month, after French actor Paul Kircher, as Anderson pads out the ranks of his men’s ambassadors following a rash of appointments on the women’s side. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pads
Noun
  • The best smart notebooks This smart notebook fits in a pocket, has 48 reusable pages and comes with the Pilot Frixion pen required for note-taking.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Lunch boxes, markers, notebooks and notebook filler paper.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In the rooms, rollaway beds and cribs are available, as well as diaper pails.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This is why adult beds are not considered safe sleep surfaces for infants.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • With both producing and consuming nations approaching the limits of their available policy tools, operational buffers are rapidly narrowing.
    — , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Saliva constantly flushes food debris and buffers acid, so chronic dryness tilts the environment toward decay.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • On the roof deck, 360-degree views give you unobstructed river views, as well as an opposing view, down on glittering, red-and-gold tiled temple roofs of the Wat Po complex.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The Keller school district hasn’t held a bond election in seven years and is facing significant needs for repairs and upgrades at 34 campuses, including replacing HVAC units and aging roofs.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Dyes such as indigo, for example, which colors your favorite blue jeans, are actually intended to fade and will do so throughout the life of the garment.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
  • That history still colors how the company talks, less like a supplement label and more like a couple of people who have been through it.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Trump treads carefully The leaders last met in Beijing just four months ago, and could meet twice more later this year.
    — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Through rapid-fire verbal repartee, constant close-ups, and frantic cuts, Deramas treads a careful line between tragedy and comedy, the latter a psychological weapon against the former.
    — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The feature arrived on Galaxy devices before Apple's new iOS 27 screen-search capability and remains available across a growing number of compatible phones and tablets.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Walmart is already cutting prices on everything from smart TVs and tablets to smartwatches, with some deals dropping by as much as 50%.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The inside was bathed in natural light, with clean wood floors and comfortable brown leather couches.
    — Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Tremors, The Dive Bar The roomy, dark dive bar with its double doors covered in stickers had comfy couches, a foosball table, Star Wars Lego sets and an arcade game.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pads. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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