plural dads
informal
: a male parent : father entry 1 sense 1
My mom swam and played soccer, my dad surfed, and my brother played basketball.Shannon Griggs
Don't get me wrong, I'm a good dad who maintains a cheerful household and greets parenthood with a smile and an open heart.Ron Harris
often used as a name
When is Dad getting home?
Dad, can you give me a ride?

Examples of dad in a Sentence

Her mom and dad both said she can't go. my dad did most of the cooking for dinner because he usually got home earlier than my mom
Recent Examples on the Web In 2016, two Cubs fans scattered some of their dad’s ashes from the stands via a plastic bag on Wrigley Field when Chicago clinched the National League pennant. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024 When the stress from the divorce took a toll on her health, affecting her work on set, her TV dad checked in on her. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dad 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably baby talk

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dad was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near dad

Cite this Entry

“Dad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dad. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on dad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!