# tack

/ˈtæk/ (US) · /tˈæk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tack
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a way of doing something or a direction you take to reach a goal. It is often used when you change your plan to try a different method.

For teachers: a course of action or a specific approach to a situation, often one that differs from a previous strategy. In a nautical context, it refers to the direction of a ship relative to the trim of its sails.

## Examples

- The government decided to try a different tack to lower inflation.
- When the initial negotiations failed, the legal team decided to change tack and focus on a settlement instead.
- Realizing that aggressive questioning was yielding no results, the detective changed tack, adopting a more sympathetic tone to encourage the witness to speak freely.

## Pitfalls

- Not "change tact" but "change tack" — Learners often confuse 'tack' (a direction or course) with 'tact' (sensitivity in social situations) in this idiom.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the idiomatic phrase 'to change tack'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.