1
: a small or insignificant amount or degree : bit
might give him some water and a tad to eatC. T. Walker
2
: a small child
especially : boy
Phrases
a tad
: somewhat, rather
looked a tad bigger than meLarry Hodgson

Examples of tad in a Sentence

there's more than just a tad of hyperbole in the critics' praise for the promising young pianist grandfather never tires of telling us about the days when he was just a tad
Recent Examples on the Web The forest setting nonetheless feels a tad redundant — not unlike the plot itself — and Azrael could have benefited from more variety all around, although the score by Toti Gudnason (Lamb) and the Blair brothers (The Toxic Avenger) manages to keep the vibe pulsing. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024 Rollover requirements are a tad steep on the welcome bonus, but the bonus itself is generous, while subsequent offers are frequent. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 This turns out to have been a tad ambitious, as the C-X75 would never end up going into production. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024 Understand the Menu Admittedly, looking at a lengthy wine list may seem a tad overwhelming, but don’t worry: They’re often organized with your palate and environment in mind. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 Additionally, the income limits for contributing to a Roth IRA will increase a tad, meaning more people may qualify to save in a Roth IRA. Amy Wagner and Steve Hruby, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 The Michigan Consumer Sentiment survey came in at a 79.6 reading for February, up a tad from January’s 79.0 and the highest it’s been since the summer of 2021. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 16 Feb. 2024 That conversational interlacing is perhaps a tad off-course but not wacky or totally out of the blue. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Having failed to see his shadow earlier this month, his handlers declared spring will be arriving a tad premature this year. David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect, toad, from Middle English tode — more at toad

First Known Use

circa 1877, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tad was circa 1877

Dictionary Entries Near tad

Cite this Entry

“Tad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tad. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on tad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!