tidbit
Americannoun
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a delicate bit or morsel of food.
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a choice or pleasing bit of anything, as news or gossip.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tidbit
First recorded in 1630–40; tide 1 (in sense “feast day”) + bit 2
Explanation
A tidbit is a small amount of something delicious. You might have a tidbit to tide you over between lunch and dinner. If you're tempted to feed your dog tidbits of your dinner, remember that that's a good way to turn him into a chubby dog that begs for food. The word tidbit can also mean "a bit of gossipy information," and you may notice yourself lingering where you can overhear a phone conversation, hoping for a few tidbits. Tidbit, or titbit in the U.K., comes from the dialectical tid, "fond or tender."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
There is always a chance these dinners may provide some tidbit of relevant information, but I have no interest in opening an account.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
So right now in government, officials are "rushing around picking up every little hint and tidbit on areas that might affect their department", in the words of one former senior figure.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
That’s a useful tidbit for investors, who like to follow recall data, to know.
From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026
A tidbit of information might seem innocuous on its face, but when combined with other information from other records could reveal sensitive information.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
I wanted to explain everything, and for him to tell me he understood and offer some tidbit of parental advice.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
She claimed this doctrine prevents courts from cherry-picking tidbits of committee reports or creating a private right to sue when Congress didn’t include one.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
Johannes Høesflot Klæbo, the greatest winter Olympian, shared interesting tidbits about himself with sports editor Joshua Robinson.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
Denford films these tidbits from her car or while taking a walk in nature.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
The nonprofit also keeps a public-facing “eagle log,” which provides updates on what the power couple is up to, along with analysis of their behaviors and educational tidbits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026
"Hello, Angela. One of these tidbits might cheer you up."
From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin
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.
