often attributive
1
a
: a short projecting device: such as
(1)
: a small flap or loop by which something may be grasped or pulled
(2)
: a projection from a card used as an aid in filing
b
: a small insert, addition, or remnant
d
: a small auxiliary airfoil hinged to a control surface (such as a trailing edge) to help stabilize an airplane in flight see airplane illustration
2
[partly short for table entry 1; partly from sense 1]
a
: close surveillance : watch
keep tabs on trends
c
: cost
the tab for the new program
3
[short for tabulator]
: a key on a keyboard that indents text by a preset amount
tabbed; tabbing
Examples of tab in a Sentence
Noun
Insert the tab into this slot to close the box.
a notebook with index tabs
The tab on the zipper is broken.
He ran up a $200 bar tab.
He put the drinks on his tab.
Verb
After you type your name in the first box, you can move to the next box by tabbing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2024
View in new tab Arizona’s votes in the Electoral College by law go to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024
View in new tab The Loveland City School District's continuing levy appeared to be failing early Wednesday.
—The Enquirer, 25 Apr. 2024
The Favorites, Search, and Systems tabs give you other ways to get at your games.
—David Nield, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2024
The criteria include how often a diner visits, how big his or her tabs are, how much wine and dessert are ordered, and tip size.
—Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024
View in new tab Maui Fire Department wasn't prepared for a disaster
According to the Fire Chiefs Association report, the weather service issued its first red flag warning on Aug. 5, warning of potential fire conditions from Aug. 7 through Aug. 9.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
View in new tab John Diedrich is an investigative reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
—John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Do my dietary restrictions and concerns take a back seat when the boss is picking up the tab?
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 13 Apr. 2024
Nena Farrell, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2024
Last week’s news that the FDA has delayed its decision on Eli Lilly’s treatment for Alzheimer’s disease had only a modest effect on the company’s valuation, suggesting the market had considerably lowered its expectations for a medicine once tabbed for blockbuster success.
—Damian Garde, STAT, 12 Mar. 2024
Clarence Hill was tabbed in the breaking news category for his story on Ezekiel Elliott’s departure from the Dallas Cowboys.
—Staff Report, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Mar. 2024
He’ll be tabbed to replace Kupchak, who’s moving into an advisory role after serving as the team’s president of basketball operations/general manager since 2018.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024
Spencer, the man who nearly brought the team back just before the pandemic, was tabbed to be the team’s head coach.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024
Harbaugh was suspended twice for three games, each for two separate NCAA investigations, and Moore was tabbed to lead one of the first three games (Bowling Green) and then all three of the final games of the year — at Penn State, at Maryland, vs. Ohio State — with the season on the line.
—Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2024
Fred Carter, a 1949 Frankfort graduate, was tabbed by then-Frankfort mayor Harold Woodruff to lead a steering committee and aid the Hollywood producers, who picked Case Arena for its size and its home appearance from the outside, resembling a college arena.
—The Indianapolis Star, 12 Jan. 2024
The Tigers also tabbed Sandy Acevedo and Marco Yepez as the managers for the two teams in the Dominican Summer League.
—Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 23 Jan. 2024
Noun
The state picked up 51% of the tab on the last bond issue nearly eight years ago.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2024
View in new tab Arizona’s votes in the Electoral College by law go to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024
View in new tab The Loveland City School District's continuing levy appeared to be failing early Wednesday.
—The Enquirer, 25 Apr. 2024
The Favorites, Search, and Systems tabs give you other ways to get at your games.
—David Nield, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2024
The criteria include how often a diner visits, how big his or her tabs are, how much wine and dessert are ordered, and tip size.
—Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024
View in new tab Maui Fire Department wasn't prepared for a disaster
According to the Fire Chiefs Association report, the weather service issued its first red flag warning on Aug. 5, warning of potential fire conditions from Aug. 7 through Aug. 9.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
View in new tab John Diedrich is an investigative reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
—John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Do my dietary restrictions and concerns take a back seat when the boss is picking up the tab?
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 13 Apr. 2024
Verb
The Special Items & Powers tab houses some items that were in the Wallet before, like Forest Magic and getting a key to the Sewers.
—Nena Farrell, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2024
Last week’s news that the FDA has delayed its decision on Eli Lilly’s treatment for Alzheimer’s disease had only a modest effect on the company’s valuation, suggesting the market had considerably lowered its expectations for a medicine once tabbed for blockbuster success.
—Damian Garde, STAT, 12 Mar. 2024
Clarence Hill was tabbed in the breaking news category for his story on Ezekiel Elliott’s departure from the Dallas Cowboys.
—Staff Report, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Mar. 2024
He’ll be tabbed to replace Kupchak, who’s moving into an advisory role after serving as the team’s president of basketball operations/general manager since 2018.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024
Spencer, the man who nearly brought the team back just before the pandemic, was tabbed to be the team’s head coach.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024
Harbaugh was suspended twice for three games, each for two separate NCAA investigations, and Moore was tabbed to lead one of the first three games (Bowling Green) and then all three of the final games of the year — at Penn State, at Maryland, vs. Ohio State — with the season on the line.
—Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2024
Fred Carter, a 1949 Frankfort graduate, was tabbed by then-Frankfort mayor Harold Woodruff to lead a steering committee and aid the Hollywood producers, who picked Case Arena for its size and its home appearance from the outside, resembling a college arena.
—The Indianapolis Star, 12 Jan. 2024
The Tigers also tabbed Sandy Acevedo and Marco Yepez as the managers for the two teams in the Dominican Summer League.
—Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 23 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tab
Cite this Entry
“Tab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tab. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tab
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a short flap or tag used as an aid in filing, pulling, or hanging
b
: something inserted
2
a
: close watch
keep tabs on fashion trends
3
: a key on a keyboard especially for arranging information in columns
tab
2 of 2 verb
tabbed; tabbing
1
: to furnish or ornament with tabs
2
: to select or name for a special purpose : designate
tabbed as the team's next captain
3
: to hit the tab key on a keyboard
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