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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

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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”

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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

The Federal Reserve decided to stand pat this week, keeping its target for the federal-funds interest rate in a range of 3.75% to 4%.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

While it is expected to stand pat after last month's hike, its post-meeting statement and comments from boss Kevin Warsh will be pored over for clues about its future plans.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

Markets price a 78% probability that the Fed will hold rates pat in October and an 88% probability for a December hike, according to LSEG.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

He turned his body slightly as Williams approached and gave the giant lineman a pat in his chest as the stadium lights went on and off.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

“Yeeka indeed,” she said, and reached down to pat the child on the head.

From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket

“It’s hard to imagine it’s good news for these industries,” said former Sen. Pat Toomey, previously a Republican ranking member of the banking committee.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

“This is going to probably elongate the timelines for the data-center build-outs,” Sequoia Capital partner Pat Grady said at the WSJ Tech conference Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

In 2011, another Illinois governor, Pat Quinn, commuted 15 death sentences, and in 2022, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown commuted 17.

From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026

Pat and Jerry Brown as inspirations, citing the younger Brown’s fiscal expertise and the elder’s work to build infrastructure and grow the University of California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

After a while, Aunt Angie and Uncle Pat have to go, and the party breaks up.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

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

A third group got a placebo nose spray with a PAT.

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

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

I am yours, Reverend Sir, to command, PAT.

From The Poems of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume 2 by William Ernst Browning

“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.

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

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 Franklin Beech

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

Baker smiled widely, nodded his head, greeted Ortiz in Spanish, chuckled and walked over to Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero, giving each of them hugs and pats on the back.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

She said she "pats herself on the head every day" for booking the appointment and "shudders to think" what would have happened if she had not.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 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

Jonesy sits down on the bottom step and pats my shoe.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

He then patted her hand, mumbling, “Good job.”

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

Cox should have been caught on 57 when he patted back to Shahzad.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

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

Pater Lumley patted the young navigator on the back of his floral-patterned dress.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

That’s why his five fellow umpires made a point of patting him on the back or shoulder before jogging to their positions for the first pitch.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 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

“Older, but no wiser,” Graham said, patting the Ukrainian president on the shoulder.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 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

Two men in jet-black uniforms were patting down a student who stood outside of the metal detectors.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

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