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• pat
  pat

  verb (used with object)

  to strike lightly or gently with something flat, as with a paddle or the palm of the hand, usually in order to flatten, smooth, or shape.
• Pat
  Pat

  noun

  a male given name, form of Patrick.
• PAT
  PAT

  point after touchdown; points after touchdown.
• pat.
  pat.

  abbreviation

  patent.

pat

¹ American  

[pat] / pæt /

verb (used with object)

patted, patting

1. to strike lightly or gently with something flat, as with a paddle or the palm of the hand, usually in order to flatten, smooth, or shape.

   to pat dough into flat pastry forms.

2. to stroke or tap gently with the palm or fingers as an expression of affection, approbation, etc.

3. to strike (the floor, ground, etc.) with light footsteps.

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verb (used without object)

patted, patting

1. to strike lightly or gently.

2. to walk or run with light footsteps.

noun

• pats
  plural

1. a light stroke, tap, or blow with the palm, fingers, or a flat object.

2. the sound of a light stroke or of light footsteps.

3. a small piece or mass, usually flat and square, formed by patting, cutting, etc..

   a pat of butter.

   Synonyms:

   dab, cake, square

idioms

1. a pat on the back, a word of praise, congratulations, or encouragement.

   Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then.

2. pat down, to pat or pass the hands over the body of (a clothed person) to detect concealed weapons, drugs, etc.

3. pat on the back, to praise, congratulate, or encourage.

   The boss patted him on the back for the deal he made yesterday.

pat ² American  

[pat] / pæt /

adjective

1. exactly to the point or purpose; apt; opportune.

   a pat solution to a problem.

2. excessively glib; unconvincingly facile.

   His answers were too pat to suit the examining board.

3. learned, known, or mastered perfectly or exactly.

   to have something pat.

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adverb

1. exactly or perfectly.

2. aptly; opportunely.

idioms

1. stand pat,

   1. to cling or hold firm to one's decision, policy, or beliefs.

      The government must stand pat in its policy.

   2. Poker. to play a hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.

2. down pat, mastered or learned perfectly: Also down cold

   If you're an actor, you have to get your lines down pat.

Pat ³ American  

[pat] / pæt /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Patrick.

2. a female given name, form of Patricia.

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PAT ⁴ American  

1. Football. point after touchdown; points after touchdown.

2. Banking. preauthorized automatic transfer.

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pat. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. patent.

2. patented.

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pat ¹ British  

/ pæt /

verb

1. to hit (something) lightly with the palm of the hand or some other flat surface

   to pat a ball

2. to slap (a person or animal) gently, esp on the back, as an expression of affection, congratulation, etc

3. (tr) to shape, smooth, etc, with a flat instrument or the palm

4. (intr) to walk or run with light footsteps

5. informal to congratulate or encourage someone

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noun

1. a light blow with something flat

2. a gentle slap

3. a small mass of something

   a pat of butter

4. the sound made by a light stroke or light footsteps

5. informal a gesture or word indicating approval or encouragement

pat ² British  

/ pæt /

adverb

1. Also: off pat.  exactly or fluently memorized or mastered

   he recited it pat

2. opportunely or aptly

3. 1. to refuse to abandon a belief, decision, etc

   2. (in poker, etc) to play without adding new cards to the hand dealt

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adjective

1. exactly right for the occasion; apt

   a pat reply

2. too exactly fitting; glib

   a pat answer to a difficult problem

3. exactly right

   a pat hand in poker

Pat ³ British  

/ pæt /

noun

1. an informal name for an Irishman

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pat ⁴ British  

/ pæt /

noun

1. informal alone; on one's own

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pat More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing pat

• stand pat

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• patness
  noun
• patter
  noun
• unpatted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pat¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English pat “blow, stroke,” apparently of expressive origin

Origin of pat²

First recorded in 1570–80; originally adverbial use of pat ¹, as obsolete to hit pat “to strike accurately”

Explanation

When you pat, you tap lightly with your hand. A sad friend might be comforted by a kind pat on the shoulder. But that sad friend would not be comforted by a pat, insincere, comment. Your grandfather might pat you on the head just like when you were little, even though you're taller than he is now. Dogs like getting a pat on the head, or maybe a pat of butter from the dinner table. When it's an adjective, pat means "way too simple" or "glib," as in "I asked a serious question — please don't give me a pat answer." To "have something down pat" is to know it by heart.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pat Pat PAT pat. pats patted patting

In the three months since Mr. Warsh’s first meeting, he has persuaded committee members who in June voted unanimously to stand pat into the opposite conclusion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

This part of the book has a pat feel to it, with square pegs occasionally jammed into round holes to support the author’s argument.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

“I gave him a pat on his back, ‘Not at my school.’”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Barring any surprising or dramatic August data releases in early September, the Fed will stand pat, the team said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

Mr. Lewin gave me an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

After a two-year leadership ban, he was named Australia's Test vice-captain before the 2021-22 Ashes series and has stood in as captain when Pat Cummins has been unavailable.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Inducting Journey into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, Train’s Pat Monahan belted the na-na-na outro of the band’s first Top 40 hit as he made his case for the group’s excellence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

"It's a waste of money," said Pat Osiecki, a 65-year-old retired contractor.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

In a final confrontation, the 62-year-old Pat takes a stand for decency and her own generation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Uncle Pat is struggling off the seat and gathering up his papers.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

In PAT, tissue molecules that absorb light vibrate after being hit by short laser pulses, producing acoustic signals that can be measured and converted into detailed images.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 6, 2026

Oxytocin or PAT alone showed no effect on wound healing, the researchers wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

Allow choreographed touchdown/turnover celebrations, speed up pace of play, move back PAT kicks…

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2025

He blocked a field goal on the last play of the two-point win over Denver, blocked a field goal against Houston in the playoffs, and blocked a PAT in the Super Bowl last year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2025

Proceedings opened with procession of Delegates presenting addresses to Mr. G. Excellently arranged; reflects great credit on PAT CAMPBELL.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 99, November 1, 1890 by Various

“We finally got it down pat. We’ve got the chemistry down pat, where we know where guys are going to be. … We’re just all on one page,” Wall said.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 26, 2017

“I don’t think you’ll see us sitting pat. I think you’ll see us aggressive and trying to get better. Maybe in some areas that the normal fan isn’t anticipating to happen.”

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 5, 2016

Diamine sky blue, pat., per 100 lb. of dry goods, ½ lb.

From The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student by Franklin Beech

Cold Rolled—Shafting, piston rods, pump rods, Collins pat. double compression couplings, manufactured by Jones & Laughlins, Pittsburgh, Pa. For solid wrought-iron beams, etc., see advertisement.

From Scientific American, Volume 22, No. 1, January 1, 1870 A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and Manufactures. by Various

We drank it, O ale-knight, sub teg. pat. fag. more than five years ago, of a summer evening, in dear old Cambridge, then undisfigured by the New Chapel.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 13, November, 1858 by Various

On the side were little wheat rolls from The Fresh Market bakery, spread with pats of Kerrygold — a small but perceptible upgrade from the Bunny Bread and Country Crock of a few years earlier.

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026

On the east coast ex pats will come out in numbers if it's New York, Boston and Toronto.

From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2025

He pats my arm, then walks me to Jaarsma Bakery and stands in line with me, telling me how good the cake is.

From Slate ● Oct. 22, 2025

The room where we meet has several places to sit, but Chan pats a spot on her couch right next to her.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025

Mrs. Spitz pats me on the shoulder as if I’m a pet.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

The machine patted me on the head by noting that I had avoided words like profound and tapestry and only once indulged in telling all of you “Here’s the thing.”

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan shared some words of encouragement with the catcher and patted him on the back.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026

The monarch was also photographed laughing in the Oval Office when Trump reached out and patted his knee.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

The dough is left to rise before being divided into balls and patted into shape by hand.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025

He patted my head as though I were a sick child.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Hwang gathered along with 30 neighbours for a session in August, practising how to pay hospital bills at mock kiosks, patting a prancing robot dog, or asking their phones: "Gemini, tell me about tomorrow's weather."

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

A video, external of the incident shows the elderly man patting the child on the head as he walked past her table at a food court in a shopping centre.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

“It’s OK, my love,” Fajardo said, patting his head.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

They engulfed her in a sea of white, screaming, yelling and patting her head.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026

“Woofs,” Cassiopeia explained, patting hers between the ears.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood