dad

[ dad ]

/ dæd /

Informal.

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noun

a person’s father or one’s father.

a person who is corny or embarrassing in the way that a father figure might be:He was being such a dad when he told that story.

a term of endearment used to refer to a man or boy who is admired: A bunch of teens commented “HI DAD!” on the rapper’s post.

adjective

corny or embarrassing in the way that a father figure might be: a dad joke;the most dad story ever.

handsome or stylish; amazing; to be admired: Those shoes are totally dad.

verb (used with object)

to act as a father toward; act paternally toward: Stop dadding me about my grades!

to refer to (an admired man or boy) as “dad”: My friends dad me whenever I look good.

verb (used without object)

to perform the tasks or duties of a male parent; act paternally: He dads like a champ.

to refer to an admired man or boy as “dad”: They dad whenever a new photo pops up on their feeds.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of dad

First recorded in 1530–40; probably originally baby talk dah-dah

Words nearby dad

dactylomegaly, dactyloscopy, -dactylous, dactylus, -dactyly, dad, dada, dadah, Dad and Dave, dad-blamed, dad-blasted

Other definitions for dad (2 of 4)

dad²

[ dad ]

/ dæd /

interjection Informal.

God (used in combination in mild oaths): dad-blamed; dad-gummed.

Origin of dad

First recorded in 1670–80; euphemism for God; see also Gad¹

Other definitions for dad (3 of 4)

dad³

[ dad ]

/ dæd /

noun Scot. and North England.

a solid blow or knock.

a large slice, lump, or portion.

Origin of dad

First recorded in 1710–20; probably variant of dab¹

Other definitions for dad (4 of 4)

ḍad

[ dahd ]

/ dɑd /

noun

the 15th letter of the Arabic alphabet.

Origin of ḍad

From Arabic

How to use dad in a sentence

My dad, he and I didn’t sit down and have those big, long talks that some dads do with their children, but it stuck with me, and I remembered him saying that.
Tom Colicchio Hopes (and Fears) COVID-19 Will Change the Restaurant Industry|Pallabi Munsi|September 16, 2020|Ozy
She goes to war to save her dad, sure — but she also goes because she’s a tomboy who rejects traditional femininity.
The history of Mulan, from a 6th-century ballad to the live-action Disney movie|Constance Grady|September 4, 2020|Vox
It has a 70-pound weight limit, so it’s off-limits for mom and dad but great for younger children.
The best boating tubes|PopSci Commerce Team|September 3, 2020|Popular-Science
I want my children to think the world of their dad the way Gianna Floyd thinks of hers.
Levi Strauss CEO: We can’t solve racial inequality if gun violence and voter disenfranchisement persist|jakemeth|September 1, 2020|Fortune

It’s been stressful because I have to worry about still having to help my dad, I have to give him rent money every month, and then I still have to pay off this loan … and I don’t get that much of a check, you know.
The Loan Company That Sued Thousands of Low-Income Latinos During the Pandemic|by Kiah Collier, Ren Larson and Perla Trevizo|August 31, 2020|ProPublica
My dad was a sailor, and all through my childhood he was away half of the time at sea, and to an extent I have a similar job.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His wife passed away and they had kids, and he wanted to focus on being a dad so he just stopped to raise his kids.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The fear of…Dad, of the war…yes, that…but something else…the fear that life is nor being lived right here now.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
My dad had worked for a while as a ranch hand, and his “Open Road” was a remnant of those days.
My Love Letter to the Stetson|Mark McKinnon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The kids are out of school, Mom is out of get-up-and-go, Dad is out of work.
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Dad and Hans Rutter, as you know, weren't the sort of men to sit around and mourn over anything like that," she laughed.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
When I told dad, sez I, 'Dad, did ever yer hear sech a thing uz gittin' up afore light to feed stock?'
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
He was one of Dad's tenants, a big purple-faced man, who drank a lot and never took much exercise.
Uncanny Tales|Various
Why, I coaxed even dad over to camp once and I've always wanted Helena to go.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
I'd do anything for dad an' I guess if he thought I was gettin' discouraged he'd jest plum up an' quit.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle|Laura Lee Hope

British Dictionary definitions for dad

dad

/ (dæd) /

noun

an informal word for father

Word Origin for dad

C16: childish word; compare Greek tata, Sanskrit tatas

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dad

Origin of dad

Words nearby dad

Other definitions for dad (2 of 4)

Origin of dad

Other definitions for dad (3 of 4)

Origin of dad

Other definitions for dad (4 of 4)

Origin of ḍad

Words related to dad

How to use dad in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dad

Word Origin for dad