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

With the local actors union reaching a tentative agreement over Christmas with producers that could pave the way for a year free of union strife, things feel a tad rosier than past years for Canada. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2025

The Porchlight staging generally is well sung, if a tad over-pushed, especially toward the end. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025

In the video, the trigger is pressed down a tad before a final push releases it from the console. —Jay Peters, The Verge, 21 Jan. 2025

In addition, its seat height of 34.4 inches (875 mm) might make shorter riders a tad uneasy. —New Atlas, 19 Jan. 2025

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