Tao

¹ American  

[dou, tou] / daʊ, taʊ /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. (in philosophical Taoism) that in virtue of which all things happen or exist.

2. the rational basis of human activity or conduct.

3. a universal, regarded as an ideal attained to a greater or lesser degree by those embodying it.

---

Tao ² American  

[tou] / taʊ /

noun

1. Yami.

---

Tao British  

/ taʊ /

noun

1. that in virtue of which all things happen or exist

2. the rational basis of human conduct

3. the course of life and its relation to eternal truth

---

Etymology

Origin of Tao¹

First recorded in 1730–40; from Chinese (Wade-Giles) Tao4, (pinyin) dào literally, “path, way, right way”

Origin of Tao²

From Tao: literally, “human being”

Example Sentences

Nevertheless, Beijing is "keen to show that external turbulence will not easily disrupt its governing rhythm or its longer-term strategic agenda", said Yu Tao, a Chinese studies professor at the University of Western Australia.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

They’ll get into the psychodrama of Kit Harrington’s Henry Muck, the thrilling parallels to real world stories, the tragic downfall of Eric Tao, and more.

From Slate • Mar. 3, 2026

Tao didn’t provide the outlet with further details about the center’s location or how much money was invested in it.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026

When I left that that meeting, Guillermo gave me Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and the Tao Te Ching.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

I’m not actually sure he will this time; Tao and I haven’t been speaking lately.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray