tack

1 of 4

verb

ˈtak 

tacked; tacking; tacks

transitive verb

1

: attach

tack on some sequins for pizzazz

especially : to fasten or affix with tacks

tack a notice to a pole

tacking down a stairway carpet

2

: to join or add in a slight or hasty manner

—usually used with on or onto

… the upbeat ending, tacked on to a book that cries out for a tragic one.

—Julian Symons

3

a

: to add as a supplement or something extra

—usually used with on or onto

tacked fees onto the price

The Marlins tacked on five runs in the bottom of the eighth …

—Buster Olney

b

: to add (a rider) to a parliamentary bill

provisions tacked to an appropriation bill

4

: to change the direction of (a sailing ship) when sailing close-hauled by turning the bow to the wind and shifting the sails so as to fall off on the other side at about the same angle as before

intransitive verb

1

a

: to tack a sailing ship

We tacked repeatedly as we sailed toward the harbor.

b

of a ship : to change to an opposite tack by turning the bow to the wind

a ship that tacks easily

c

: to follow a course against the wind by a series of tacks

Boredom was the chief enemy as the ships tacked to and fro.

—Nigel Calder

2

a

: to follow a zigzag course

tacked through the crowd

b

: to modify one's policy or attitude abruptly

With the coming of Ronald Reagan to power, Nixon tacked hard right—an old instinct.

—Sidney Blumenthal

tacker noun

tack

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

: a small short sharp-pointed nail usually having a broad flat head

2

a

: the direction of a ship with respect to the trim of her sails

starboard tack

b

: the run of a sailing ship on one tack

c

: a change when close-hauled from the starboard to the port tack or vice versa

d

: a zigzag movement on land

e

: a course or method of action

especially : one sharply divergent from that previously followed

3

: any of various usually temporary stitches

4

: the lower forward corner of a fore-and-aft sail

5

: a sticky or adhesive quality or condition

tack

3 of 4

noun (2)

: stable gear

especially : articles of harness (such as saddle and bridle) for use on a saddle horse

tack

4 of 4

noun (3)

: hardtack sense 1

Did you know?

Do you change tack or tact?

Although some believe the word tact is short for tactics in phrases like "change tact" or "try a different tact," the correct word in such contexts is tack.

Tack in "change tack" and "try a different tack" means "a course or method of action especially when sharply divergent from that previously followed.”

Tack developed this meaning from its nautical applications. In sailing, tack can refer to the direction that a ship or boat is sailing in as it moves at an angle to the direction of the wind; or to a change from one direction to another direction; or to the distance traveled while sailing in a particular direction.

Tack developed the "course or method of action" meaning near the end of the 17th century; within 100 or so years, the phrase "change tack" was being used with the figurative meaning it has today.

While there is also a long history of people using tact where tack belongs, the use is widely shunned by usage guides, which means you might want to avoid it.

Synonyms

Verb

• add
• adjoin
• annex
• append
• subjoin

Noun (1)

• approach
• fashion
• form
• how
• manner
• method
• methodology
• recipe
• strategy
• style
• system
• tactics
• technique
• way

Examples of tack in a Sentence

Verb

She tacked a poster on the wall.

A message was tacked to the board.

We had to tack repeatedly as we sailed toward the harbor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Shawsheen 21, Belmont 6 — Zach Rogers (91 total yards on five touches) scampered for a 39-yard rushing touchdown before tacking on a 29-yard receiving score to lead the Rams (2-0) to a nonleague win. —Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023

The senior had 23 assists, 19 crucial digs and tacked on 11 kills to secure the 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-12, 15-12) win. —Bryce Houston, The Courier-Journal, 11 Sep. 2023

Carter finished the opening drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, then tacked on a 44-yard score on MSU’s next drive to make it 31-0. —Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2023

In a statement, Walmart stated its systems mistakenly tacked on both the old rate and the new rate. —William Thornton | [e-mail], al, 1 Sep. 2023

The lender will just tack on the amount to the end of the loan, which will mean a longer loan term and more interest. —Becca Stanek, The Week, 25 Aug. 2023

Zaslav, too, began to talk about the need for CNN to tack to the center. —Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2023

The Grand Highlander isn't merely a regular Highlander with a few inches tacked on. —Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 30 Aug. 2023

The food here is so good you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a restaurant with a hotel tacked on. —Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2023

Noun

During the trial, prosecutors emphasized that Mr. Navarro could have taken a similar tack. —Zach Montague, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023

Independent buyers could take the opposite tack, calculating that, as the strike drags on, the fewer films will get made and the bigger the gap in distributor’s schedules. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023

Four years later, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee took a similar tack, declaring bankruptcy just before 17 lawsuits by abuse survivors were about to go to trial in state court and creating a $55 million trust designed for the maintenance of its cemeteries. —Jonathan M. Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023

Mel Woods, the social media editor at Canadian LGBTQ+ news site Xtra, is taking the same tack. —Tracey Lindeman, WIRED, 28 Aug. 2023

Gently brush the silver-leaf letters with a sealer, and outline each letter with decorative tacks. —Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2023

Sharp as a tack, and with a social conscience beyond her years, she seems destined to be head of state one day. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023

From incredible sound to a massive screen size that's sharp as a tack, there's little this portable device can't do. —Jasmine Gomez, Women's Health, 29 Aug. 2023

More from Carolyn Hax From the archive: Dysfunctional in-laws want to join her side of family’s vacation Girlfriend flubbed birthday celebration for boyfriend Lovelorn ex-boyfriend needs to take different tack What to call the grandparents? —Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English takken, from tak

Noun (1)

Middle English tak fastener, rope tying down the windward corner of a sail, from Middle French (Norman dialect) taque; akin to Middle Dutch tac sharp point

Noun (2)

perhaps short for tackle

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1924, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tack

• tack claw
• tick-tack-toe
• tie tack
• ticky-tack

• tack claw
• tick-tack-toe
• tie tack
• ticky-tack

Kids Definition

tack

1 of 3 verb

ˈtak 

1

: to fasten or attach especially with tacks

2

: to join in a slight or hasty manner

3

: to add on in order to complete

4

a

: to change the direction of a sailing ship by shifting the sails

b

: to change from one tack to another

5

: to follow a zigzag course

tacker noun

tack

2 of 3 noun

1

: a small short sharp-pointed nail usually with a broad flat head

2

a

: the direction a ship is sailing as shown by the position the sails are set in

on the port tack

b

: a change of course from one tack to another

3

: a zigzag movement on land

4

: a course or method of action

try a new tack

5

: a slight or temporary sewing or fastening

tack

3 of 3 noun

: stable gear

especially : equipment (as a saddle and bridle) for use on a saddle horse

Legal Definition

tack

transitive verb

: to combine (a use, possession, or period of time) with that of another especially in order to satisfy the statutory time period for acquiring title to or a prescriptive easement in the property of a third party

successive adverse users in privity with prior adverse users can tack successive adverse possessions of land

—Hall v. Kerlee, 461 S.E.2d 911 (1995)