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.
After spiking a tad higher in the spring of 2023, shares have been in a near freefall. Alex Sherman, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025 The digital device is exhausted, the runtime stretches a tad too long, and a club scene that begins as an admirable feat (making clever use of the Music Box Theatre) begins to drag, before giving way to a crucial turning point in the story. Shania Russell, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025 That might be a tad bit easier to snag than getting your hands on Armstrong’s one-of-one collectible. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2025 That’s one of the lowest on record, a tad higher than last year’s total of 53. Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 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 14 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

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