plural tags
1
: a loose hanging piece of cloth : tatter
2
: a metal or plastic binding on an end of a shoelace
3
: a piece of hanging or attached material
specifically
: a loop, knot, or tassel on a garment
4
a
: a brief quotation used for rhetorical emphasis or sententious effect
b
: a recurrent or characteristic verbal expression
c
5
a
: a cardboard, plastic, or metal marker used for identification or classification
license tags
b
: a descriptive or identifying epithet
c
: something used for identification or location : flag
d
e
f
: an element of code in a computer document used especially to control format and layout or to establish a hyperlink
g
: hashtag
… nuns shared their daily lives on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter with the tag #MediaNuns …—
Elizabeth Bruenig
Elizabeth Bruenig
h
: a string of text (such as the symbol @ followed by a person's username) that is used to tag a person or account in a social media post
While it's impossible to prohibit a friend from tagging you, Facebook allows you to review all tags before they appear on your profile.—Lara Webster
Lara Webster6
: a detached fragmentary piece : bit
7
: a graffito in the form of an identifying name or symbol
tagged; tagging; tags
1
: to provide or mark with or as if with a tag: such as
a
: to supply with an identifying marker or price
was tagged at $4.95
c
: to put a ticket on (a motor vehicle) for a traffic violation
d
: to deface with a graffito usually in the form of the defacer's nickname
e
: to supply (something, such as a social media post) with a hashtag
Don't forget to submit your photos of Montreal via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by tagging them with #ThisMtl.—Montreal Gazette
Montreal Gazette
f
: to mention (another person or account) in a social media post in a way that causes the person or account to be notified of the post
On Facebook, if someone wants to get your attention or make it clear to others that you are somehow connected to a post, they can tag you in it. Your name will be mentioned in the post or with the photo, and everyone else who sees it will also know that you are mentioned.—Dave Johnson
Dave JohnsonKnowing how to tag someone on Facebook means also knowing how to tag someone on Twitter and Instagram. Simply use the @ symbol to start a tag.—ThriveHive.com
ThriveHive.comMy friends went back and tagged me in all the photos I'd missed …—Rachel Kraus
Rachel KrausInstagram allows users to reshare posts they've been tagged in to their own Story.—Devon Delfino
Devon Delfino2
: to attach as an addition : append
3
: to follow closely and persistently
4
: to hold to account
especially
: to charge with violating the law
was tagged for … assault —Burt Woolis
Burt Woolis 5
: to keep close
tagging at their heels—Corey Ford
Corey Ford1
: a game in which the player who is it chases others and tries to touch one of them who then becomes it
2
: an act or instance of tagging a runner in baseball
tagged; tagging
1
a
: to touch in or as if in a game of tag
b
: to put out (a runner) in baseball by a touch with the ball or the gloved hand containing the ball
2
: to hit solidly
3
: to choose usually for a special purpose : select
4
: to make a hit or run off (a pitcher) in baseball
the batter tagged him for a home run
the adjutant general
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
Verb (2)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebCam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2023
When Cubs first baseman Trey Mancini tried to catch McLain with a throw to second base, McLain slid in safely ahead of the tag.
—Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 29 May 2023
The tag shown by the women shows the size labeled as XS.
—Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
Bradfield beat the throw, but Green held the tag as Bradfield slid off second base.
—Nubyjas Wilborn | Nwilborn@al.com, al, 25 May 2023
Guests will find over 250 arcade games, a ropes course, climbing walls, an indoor zip line, bowling, laser tag, mini golf and more.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 14 May 2023
Comcast and Disney struck a deal in May 2019 that set a timetable for Comcast selling its remaining interest in Hulu to Disney (or vice versa) as early as January 2024, at a price tag that values Hulu in its entirety at a minimum of $27.5 billion.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 10 May 2023
Throughout the summer, there will be roller skating at a covered outdoor rink, putt putt with neon golf, retro video games and laser tag.
—Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 7 May 2023
Eventually, the garden will have a seed library, like the one students built at Barona last year, as well as QR code tags linking to detailed information about the plants and their traditional uses.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2023
Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2023
Miles Morales, a Puerto Rican and African American kid who loved to tag the city walls with his art, was a new kind of superhero.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 May 2023
Adolis García scooped the ball in shallow right and sent it back to home plate, where catcher Jonah Heim had a pitch clock’s worth of time to tag McCann for the inning-ending out.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 28 May 2023
Finally, on a grounder to third Yoán Moncada was unsuccessful attempting to tag out the runner going back to bag.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2023
The Khadra sisters also shared similar footage on their Story, and tagged The Weeknd, The Idol and Jennie.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 May 2023
Pitching against the lowly Kansas City Royals, Rodriguez had the worst outing of his nascent big league career, as a lineup with few recognizable major leaguers tagged the top prospect for eight hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2023
Pfaadt lasted just 4 2/3 innings and was tagged for four home runs, but the top pitching prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system moved quickly to The Show, making his debut at just 24 years old.
—Jake Adams, The Courier-Journal, 7 May 2023
Solo Sikoa aggressively tagged himself in while Jey Uso was looking to finish Sami Zayn off.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 6 May 2023
See More
Noun
Tewksbury's Sam Ryan slides safely into third base ahead of the tag by Peabody's Kiley Doolin.
—Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2023
When Cubs first baseman Trey Mancini tried to catch McLain with a throw to second base, McLain slid in safely ahead of the tag.
—Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 29 May 2023
The tag shown by the women shows the size labeled as XS.
—Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
Bradfield beat the throw, but Green held the tag as Bradfield slid off second base.
—Nubyjas Wilborn | Nwilborn@al.com, al, 25 May 2023
Guests will find over 250 arcade games, a ropes course, climbing walls, an indoor zip line, bowling, laser tag, mini golf and more.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 14 May 2023
Comcast and Disney struck a deal in May 2019 that set a timetable for Comcast selling its remaining interest in Hulu to Disney (or vice versa) as early as January 2024, at a price tag that values Hulu in its entirety at a minimum of $27.5 billion.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 10 May 2023
Throughout the summer, there will be roller skating at a covered outdoor rink, putt putt with neon golf, retro video games and laser tag.
—Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 7 May 2023
Eventually, the garden will have a seed library, like the one students built at Barona last year, as well as QR code tags linking to detailed information about the plants and their traditional uses.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2023
Verb
Justin Turner took a step in and could not get back to the base in time to tag Raley.
—Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2023
Miles Morales, a Puerto Rican and African American kid who loved to tag the city walls with his art, was a new kind of superhero.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 May 2023
Adolis García scooped the ball in shallow right and sent it back to home plate, where catcher Jonah Heim had a pitch clock’s worth of time to tag McCann for the inning-ending out.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 28 May 2023
Finally, on a grounder to third Yoán Moncada was unsuccessful attempting to tag out the runner going back to bag.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2023
The Khadra sisters also shared similar footage on their Story, and tagged The Weeknd, The Idol and Jennie.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 May 2023
Pitching against the lowly Kansas City Royals, Rodriguez had the worst outing of his nascent big league career, as a lineup with few recognizable major leaguers tagged the top prospect for eight hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2023
Pfaadt lasted just 4 2/3 innings and was tagged for four home runs, but the top pitching prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system moved quickly to The Show, making his debut at just 24 years old.
—Jake Adams, The Courier-Journal, 7 May 2023
Solo Sikoa aggressively tagged himself in while Jey Uso was looking to finish Sami Zayn off.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 6 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tag.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English tagge; akin to Middle Low German tagge, tacke twig, spike
Noun (2)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1627, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of tag was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing tag
Dictionary Entries Near tag
Cite this Entry
“Tag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tag. Accessed 9 Jul. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
tag
1 of 4 noun1
: a loose hanging piece of cloth : tatter
2
: a metal or plastic binding on an end of a shoelace
3
: tag line
4
a
: something (as a marker) used for identification
specifically
: hangtag
b
: a part of a computer file that controls the format or layout of a document or that indicates a hyperlink (as "〈it〉" to indicate italic type)
tag
2 of 4 verb
tagged; tagging
1
: to provide or mark with or as if with a tag
2
: to follow closely and continuously
tag
3 of 4 noun1
: a game in which one player who is it chases the others and tries to touch one of them to make that person it
2
: an act or instance of tagging a runner in baseball
tag
4 of 4 verb
tagged; tagging
1
: to touch in a game of tag
2
: to put out (a runner) in baseball by touching with the ball or with the gloved hand holding the ball
Etymology
Noun
Middle English tagge "a hanging piece of loose cloth"; of Germanic origin
Noun
origin unknown
More from Merriam-Webster on tag
Nglish: Translation of tag for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of tag for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tag
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
-
Palter, Dissemble, and Other Words for Lying
Trust us
-
Skunk, Bayou, and Other Words with Native American Origins
You've used more than you might think
-
Words For Things You Didn't Know Have Names, Vol. 2
When 'thingamajig' and 'thingamabob' just won't do
-
When Were Words First Used?
Look up any year to find out
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Name That Thing MegaQuiz: Vol. 2
Test your visual vocabulary!
Take the quiz
-
Name That Dish!
Some mouth-watering food for thought
Take the quiz
-
Spell It
Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get...
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share