dad

¹

[dad]

noun

1. a person’s father or one’s father.

2. 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.

3. 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

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

   a dad joke;

   the most dad story ever.

2. handsome or stylish; amazing; to be admired.

   Those shoes are totally dad.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as a father toward; act paternally toward.

   Stop dadding me about my grades!

2. to refer to (an admired man or boy) as “dad”.

   My friends dad me whenever I look good.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the tasks or duties of a male parent; act paternally.

   He dads like a champ.

2. to refer to an admired man or boy as “dad”.

   They dad whenever a new photo pops up on their feeds.

dad

²

[dad]

interjection

Informal.

1. God (used in combination in mild oaths).

   dad-blamed; dad-gummed.

dad

³

[dad]

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. a solid blow or knock.

2. a large slice, lump, or portion.

ḍad

⁴

[dahd]

noun

1. the 15th letter of the Arabic alphabet.

dad

/ dæd /

noun

1. an informal word for father

Word History and Origins

Origin of dad¹

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

Origin of dad²

First recorded in 1670–80; euphemism for God; Gad ¹ ( def. )

Origin of dad³

First recorded in 1710–20; probably variant of dab ¹

Origin of dad⁴

From Arabic

Word History and Origins

Origin of dad¹

C16: childish word; compare Greek tata, Sanskrit tatas

Example Sentences

His most vivid memory was the time a guard in El Centro gave him extra food because he thought my dad was a bit too skinny.

From Los Angeles Times

"But my mum and dad persuaded me to go on trial at Accrington Stanley one or two weeks later. I didn't look back after that."

From BBC

That might be Levi hoping his dad learned a thing or two from Grandma.

From Los Angeles Times

Her dad David added: "The women and the coaches are amazing. There are lots of different standards here but she loves the rugby and the socialising."

From BBC

"My mum and dad agreed to let me live back there but I'm just struggling at the minute," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• old man 
• papa 
• parent