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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

Rhoa gave a head pat and some words of encouragement and ran back to the line for the next play.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 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

A small increase of 0.1% or less in the core CPI could sway the central bank to stand pat.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

"Old people like to pat young children's heads," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

I feel a couple other hands pat me on the back.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

On his 63rd birthday, Earl Vittitoe and his wife, Pat Vittitoe, left their home in Illinois and drove west to Arizona to start a new chapter in retirement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 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

Prof Pat Price, a leading UK clinical academic oncologist, says the government targets "are now simply impossible to hit", after what she describes as a "complete loss of momentum".

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

Mam is delighted I’m getting sixpence on Fridays from Uncle Pat and sixpence on Saturdays from Mr.Timoney.

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

One group was given oxytocin nose spray and asked to complete a “partner appreciation task,” or PAT, consisting of a 10-minute mutual-appreciation session.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

After missing PAT attempts in two preseason games, the Browns opted to go with rookie Andre Szmyt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2025

"Bedad," says PAT, "don't I see that for meself; but phatis he doin' it for?"

From Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 19, August 6, 1870 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 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

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

Kennedy pats him quickly on the back, then turns to the camera.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 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

An agent with a baseball hat and FBI vest pats his heart and appears to be talking to him and trying to calm him down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2025

He reaches over to Marlena’s side of the bed and pats the empty space a few times.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

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

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

Finishing his little speech and heading back to his chair, Steve Eisman passed Bill Miller and patted him on the back, almost sympathetically.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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

“Usually these visits are a glorified patting on the back,” said Andrew Roberts, a British historian and royal biographer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 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

“I’m trying to understand,” he can be heard saying, patting the Tiktoker on the shoulder.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025

When Matthias arrived at the wall he felt like patting the old red sandstone.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques