tad

noun

ˈtad 

1

: a small or insignificant amount or degree : bit

might give him some water and a tad to eat

—C. T. Walker

2

: a small child

especially : boy

Phrases

a tad

: somewhat, rather

looked a tad bigger than me

—Larry Hodgson

Synonyms

• ace
• bit
• crumb
• dab
• dram
• driblet
• glimmer
• hint
• lick
• little
• mite
• nip
• ounce
• particle
• peanuts
• ray
• scintilla
• scruple
• shade
• shadow
• shred
• skosh
• smack
• smell
• smidgen
• smidgeon
• smidgin
• smidge
• snap
• soupçon
• spark
• spatter
• speck
• splash
• spot
• sprinkling
• strain
• streak
• suspicion
• touch
• trace

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

However, the notion that future generations will interpret history through the lens of AI is a tad concerning. —Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

The technology sector’s stranglehold on market outperformance eased a tad this year, with the bull rally broadening out to include small-cap stocks. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024

The show is a tad more expansive than Derry Girls, following Saoirse, Robyn and Dara, who journey on a hilarious odyssey through Ireland and beyond as each tries to piece together the truth of the past. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2024

The Ice Age Trail is, in every positive sense, Midwest Nice—pleasant to look at, if a tad boring, but as accommodating and kind as can be. —Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 24 Dec. 2024

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

Kids Definition

tad

noun

ˈtad 

1

: boy sense 1

2

: bit entry 2 sense 1