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.
to stroke or tap gently with the palm or fingers as an expression of affection, approbation, etc.
to strike (the floor, ground, etc.) with light footsteps.
to strike lightly or gently.
to walk or run with light footsteps.
a pat on the back, a word of praise, congratulations, or encouragement.
Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then.
pat down, to pat or pass the hands over the body of (a clothed person) to detect concealed weapons, drugs, etc.
pat on the back, to praise, congratulate, or encourage.
The boss patted him on the back for the deal he made yesterday.
exactly or perfectly.
aptly; opportunely.
stand pat,
to cling or hold firm to one's decision, policy, or beliefs.
The government must stand pat in its policy.
Poker. to play a hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.
down pat, mastered or learned perfectly: Also down cold
If you're an actor, you have to get your lines down pat.
Football. point after touchdown; points after touchdown.
Banking. preauthorized automatic transfer.
patent.
patented.
to hit (something) lightly with the palm of the hand or some other flat surface
to pat a ball
to slap (a person or animal) gently, esp on the back, as an expression of affection, congratulation, etc
(tr) to shape, smooth, etc, with a flat instrument or the palm
(intr) to walk or run with light footsteps
informal to congratulate or encourage someone
a light blow with something flat
a gentle slap
a small mass of something
a pat of butter
the sound made by a light stroke or light footsteps
informal a gesture or word indicating approval or encouragement
Also: off pat. exactly or fluently memorized or mastered
he recited it pat
opportunely or aptly
to refuse to abandon a belief, decision, etc
(in poker, etc) to play without adding new cards to the hand dealt
exactly right for the occasion; apt
a pat reply
too exactly fitting; glib
a pat answer to a difficult problem
exactly right
a pat hand in poker
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English pat “blow, stroke,” apparently of expressive origin
First recorded in 1570–80; originally adverbial use of pat 1, as obsolete to hit pat “to strike accurately”
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.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bets on a hike have risen over the past week, though analysts expect officials to stand pat on Wednesday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Anything less than that, and the Fed is almost certain to stand pat.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Tamura, a former private bank executive, is considered hawkish and known as a frequent dissenter who has repeatedly proposed rate hikes when the board chose to stand pat, including ahead of the June move.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
She was seen several times with the US president at the summit including a meeting on a sofa after which he appeared to pat her shoulder.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
I pat my pockets, looking for my phone, before remembering I left it in my bag downstairs.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: "By providing bursaries to those who need them most and fully funding apprenticeship training, we are making sure cost is not the reason someone misses out."
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Pat Healey, CEO of Valhalla’s parent company, Viking Yacht, said it is working on a 65-foot boat—10 feet longer than its current flagship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Any EA Sports game should have a Pat McAfee song on it,” Ernest said in describing the former West Virginia standout’s musical style.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Pat Cunningham, who worked at the castle between 1988 and 2010, bought the cards online or from local antique shops over decades, according to English Heritage.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Pat Robertson, the former television evangelist and presidential candidate, maintained recently that he couldn’t prove that there weren’t Soviet missile sites in Cuba and therefore there might be.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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
A third group got a placebo nose spray with a PAT.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
After the miscue, Dicker rebounded by making his next two extra points and adding a 29-yard field goal, along with the 46-yarder he hit before the missed PAT.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2024
PAT late was my patron,—'twas only his fun!
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, August 22, 1891 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
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.
Diamine orange D C, pat., with an addition of 6½ oz. soap, 4 to 5 dr. soda per 10 gallons liquor, 16 oz.
From The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student by Beech, Franklin
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 Beech, Franklin
Govan basked in the limelight nearby, shaking hands and doling out hugs and back pats.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
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
You can always throw in a touch of cream or half-and-half or — of course — a few pats of butter.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2025
She pats the sofa next to her like I should sit there, but I don’t.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
The monarch was also photographed laughing in the Oval Office when Trump reached out and patted his knee.
From Barron's ● May 1, 2026
And a year ago, after an address to a joint session of Congress, Trump shook Roberts’s hand, patted him on the shoulder and thanked him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 21, 2026
As Hugo Ekitike walked off to the adulation of the Anfield crowd last Saturday and took his seat on the bench, Alexander Isak simply patted his Liverpool team-mate's hair from behind.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2026
Powell just eased up on the gas to drop to 55 mph from 70 and patted your knee.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 2, 2025
Penelope patted her mistress awkwardly on the back.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
“Older, but no wiser,” Graham said, patting the Ukrainian president on the shoulder.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
The two leaders shook hands warmly, Trump patting Xi's hand, and exchanged a few words on the red carpet before the cameras.
From Barron's ● May 14, 2026
"She's an amazing person and an amazing fighter, and she announced a minor difficulty which will be in good shape," Trumps said, patting her on the shoulder.
From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026
But at the tail end of his monologue, O’Brien assured viewers that the Oscars exist to honor cinema as an art form, not for the Hollywood industrial complex patting itself on the back.
From Salon ● Mar. 16, 2026
“I’ll let you two have some space,” Mr. Shephard says, patting Sneaky’s shoulder before leaving the doorway.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
