DictionaryAI

pat

PAT/pæt/

Verbpats, patting, patted

Noun pluralpats

13 meanings of pat

Practice

  1. 1
    tap lightlyverbtransitive
    To touch someone or something lightly with your open hand, to be kind, show love, or dry it.

    Grandma likes to pat me on the head when I help her cook.

    He patted the seat next to him and asked me to sit down.

    UsageSay pat someone on the back.

    Similartap

  2. 2
    a light tapnouncountable
    A light tap or soft slap, usually with your hand.

    The teacher gave me a pat on the shoulder for my good work.

    Our dog wags its tail every time it gets a pat on the head.

    UsageA pat on the back can also mean praise.

    Similartap, touch

  3. 3
    smooth downverbtransitive
    To tap something softly again and again with a flat hand to make it flat or smooth.

    Pat the dough into a circle before you add the sauce.

    She patted the wet sand flat to make a base for her castle.

    UsageSay pat something down or pat it flat.

    Similarpress, shape

  4. 4
    exactlyadverb
    Exactly or perfectly, often about where something is.
    His nose sitteth flat on the face of him as it were a dab of clay, and I can see pat up his nostrils a summer day’s journey into his head.
    1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A RomanceHere, pat means exactly or directly, straight up into his head.

    Similarsquarely, exactly, precisely

    Note
  5. 5
    unoriginaladjective
    Seeming complete, but not fresh, as if said many times before.

    When I asked why, he gave me a pat answer and walked away.

    The movie ends with a pat lesson about being kind to others.

    UsageSay a pat answer.

    Similartrite, stock, hackneyed, stale, banal

    Oppositeoriginal, fresh

    Note
  6. 6
    small lumpnouncountable
    A soft, flat lump of something, such as butter or animal waste.

    He put a pat of butter on top of his pancakes.

    The kids made little pats of mud and set them in the sun to dry.

    UsageSay a pat of butter.

    Similarknob, lump

  7. 7
    invention rightsnounabbreviationclipping
    Short for patent: a legal right to stop others from making, using or selling an invention for a limited time.

    The bottom of the old toy says "Pat. pending" in tiny letters.

    The inventor wrote "pat. applied for" on every drawing she sent out.

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of pat apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English plættan, meaning “to hit or slap”. Over time the word lost its l sound.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts