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
The Bank of England is also expected to stand pat.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
“Well, he’s proved he’s a 1-A. Leon should pat himself on the back, because if he didn’t do what he did, we wouldn’t be here.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
I put her back in my pocket and gave her a pat.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
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
It first soured over a decade ago, during the tenure of athletic director Pat Haden.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
So often we have seen the first ball of a series set the tone and when Crawley drove Pat Cummins gloriously through the covers for four, a statement had been made.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Uncle Pat says, See, I didn’t drop him, Angela, and she touches his face.
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
“As polymer prices continue its downtrend, this may cause PAT margins to trend deeper in negative territory,” Yap says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025
Oxytocin or PAT alone showed no effect on wound healing, the researchers wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
What a play. @king21_rich takes the int to the house after almost fumbling Orange Lutheran had PAT blocked to keep score at 20-13.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2025
The latter figure is a combination of IDA PAT and IDA TELO.
From The Pagan Tribes of Borneo by Haddon, Alfred C. (Alfred Cort)
“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 Beech, Franklin
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
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
Sometimes, her 3-year-old pats his belly when he’s hungry for his favorite fruits like strawberries.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2026
You know how we adults are inclined to respond to such unbridled optimism: With patronizing pats on the head.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 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
Others confirmed with nods and pats on the shoulder.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
The monarch was also photographed laughing in the Oval Office when Trump reached out and patted his knee.
From Barron's ● May 1, 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
The preseason poll patted IU on the head with a No. 20 ranking.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 7, 2025
Powell just eased up on the gas to drop to 55 mph from 70 and patted your knee.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 2, 2025
She patted me gently and murmured comforting words.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
“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
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
“The good thing about spice is that you can adjust it to your taste,” she says, patting her hijab in a gesture I recognize as nervousness.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
