Word
dad
US/ˈdæd/
UK/dˈæd/
Definitions
01a father
n. an informal name for a father.
n. an informal term for a male parent.
“My dad took me to the park every Saturday when I was a child.”
“After retiring from the firm, her dad spent most of his time restoring vintage motorcycles in the garage.”
Informal
02addressing a father
n. a name you use when talking directly to your father.
n. a vocative used to address one's own father, often capitalized when used as a proper name.
“Can you help me with my homework, Dad?”
“I was wondering, Dad, if you might have a moment to look over the contract before I sign it.”
Informal
Usage
Capitalized when used as a proper noun without a possessive pronoun.
Teaching tip
Remind students that 'my Dad' is usually a capitalization error in modern English; it should be 'my dad' or just 'Dad'.
04to act as a father
v. to act like a father or to look after someone like a father does.
v. to perform the duties or display the typical characteristics associated with being a father.
“He really stepped up to dad his younger siblings after their parents passed away.”
“He spent the weekend dadding hard, flipping burgers at the grill and teaching the kids how to pitch a tent in the backyard.”
Informal · Humorous
Usage
Often used in the progressive form 'dadding' to describe stereotypical fatherly behavior.
Teaching tip
This verbal use is often playful or slightly ironic in modern social media contexts.
Collocations
Related words
Idioms
deadbeat dad — A man, especially one who is divorced or estranged from his partner, who fails to provide monetary child support when he is legally required to do so.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/dad