1
: a light blow especially with the hand or a flat instrument
2
: a light tapping often rhythmical sound
3
: something (such as butter) shaped into a small flat usually square individual portion
patted; patting
1
: to strike lightly with a flat instrument
2
: to flatten, smooth, or put into place or shape with light blows
3
: to tap or stroke gently with the hand to soothe, caress, or show approval
: to strike or beat gently
patent
point after touchdown
Synonyms
Adverb
Verb
Adjective
- adamant
- adamantine
- bullheaded
- dogged
- hard
- hard-nosed
- hardened
- hardheaded
- headstrong
- immovable
- implacable
- inconvincible
- inflexible
- intransigent
- mulish
- obdurate
- obstinate
- opinionated
- ossified
- pertinacious
- perverse
- pigheaded
- self-opinionated
- self-willed
- stiff-necked
- stubborn
- unbending
- uncompromising
- unrelenting
- unyielding
- willful
- wilful
Examples of pat in a Sentence
Noun
She gave the dog a quick pat.
Adverb
after months of practicing for the competition, the cheerleaders have their moves down pat
Verb
The child gently patted the dog's head.
He patted my knee and told me everything would be fine.
He patted his hair down.
She patted the dough into a square.
He patted the lettuce dry with a paper towel.
Adjective
The movie's pat ending was a disappointment.
His explanation was too pat to be believable.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 21 Oct. 2024
The model used the product after applying her moisturizers and serums and pats it specifically under her eyes to give those areas more brightness.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 24 Sep. 2024
Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, 21 Apr. 2020
To use, soak the disc about 15 minutes, pat dry, and snap in place.
—Jean Kressy, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2019
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024
Just as Charles went to pat his head, Hephner sneezed on him, catching the King—and the surrounding crowd—off guard.
—Erin Hill, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
But while the message is pat, the way it’s presented is poignant, thanks to an arresting lead performance from Gong, who manages a tricky balance of chilliness and charm.
—Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for pat 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
As diners dip into the salty pat of butter before them, the room goes silent save for an occasional moan.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 21 Oct. 2024
The model used the product after applying her moisturizers and serums and pats it specifically under her eyes to give those areas more brightness.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 24 Sep. 2024
Adverb
The 2016 draft was the last time the Bengals stayed pat through all seven rounds.
—Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, 21 Apr. 2020
To use, soak the disc about 15 minutes, pat dry, and snap in place.
—Jean Kressy, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2019
Verb
Don't skip patting the scallops dry—this is essential in getting a proper sear on them.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024
Just as Charles went to pat his head, Hephner sneezed on him, catching the King—and the surrounding crowd—off guard.
—Erin Hill, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Unlike her wryly astute essays, the playwright scarcely reckons with the thorny nuances of mourning, and instead settles for a rather pat depiction of grief.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
But while the message is pat, the way it’s presented is poignant, thanks to an arresting lead performance from Gong, who manages a tricky balance of chilliness and charm.
—Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for pat
Dictionary Entries Near pat
Cite this Entry
“Pat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pat. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pat
1 of 3 noun1
: a light blow especially with the hand or a flat instrument
2
: a light tapping sound
3
: something (as butter) shaped into a small flat portion
pat
2 of 3 verb
patted; patting
1
: to strike lightly with the hand or a flat instrument : strike or beat gently
2
: to flatten, smooth, or shape with pats
3
: to tap or stroke gently with the hand to soothe or to show affection or approval
pat
3 of 3 adjective
patter; pattest
2
: learned exactly
have a lesson down pat
3
: firm entry 1 sense 2b, unyielding
stand pat
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