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
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.
Outside of a few variations that are in low supply...most will be worth just a tad more than their original value. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025 There's also a tad more room in the back with 749 liters of storage space. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 21 May 2025 The race in Baltimore is the shortest of the Triple Crown at 1 3/16 of a mile, a tad shorter than the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4-mile race. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025 Smooth it through damp or dry hair from mid-lengths to ends before styling, then finish with a tad more on the tips once you're done for extra oomph. Amanda Mitchell, Allure, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for tad

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

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Cite this Entry

“Tad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tad. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

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