1
: a small mass, bundle, or tuft: such as
a
: a soft mass especially of a loose fibrous material variously used (as to stop an aperture, pad a garment, or hold grease around an axle)
b(1)
: a soft plug used to retain a powder charge or to avoid windage especially in a muzzle-loading gun
(2)
: a felt or paper disk used to separate the components of a shotgun cartridge
c
: a small mass of a chewing substance
a wad of gum
2
: a considerable amount (as of money)
3
a
: a roll of paper money
b
: money
wadded; wadding
1
a
: to insert a wad into
wad a gun
b
: to hold in by a wad
wad a bullet in a gun
2
: to form into a wad or wadding
especially
: to roll or crush into a tight wad
3
: to stuff or line with some soft substance
wadder
noun
Examples of wad in a Sentence
Noun
He spent a wad on clothes.
a starlet who usually gets a big wad of publicity for her nonstop antics
Verb
she wadded up the paper and threw it in the wastebasket
Recent Examples on the Web
John Noakes, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
To the detriment of the proceedings late in the second act, there is a wad of exposition gristle that brings things full stop in the form of a labored revelation of why Diamond is such a grump and perhaps maybe won’t be one in the future.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2025
Denny Hamlin wad the favorite at +425 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook early Sunday evening, followed by William Byron (+450), Kyle Larson (+500), Ryan Blaney (+700), Tyler Reddick (+800) and Chase Briscoe (+800).
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wad
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Noun
Go grab your passport, a wad of bail money, and enough thirst for wine that growls at history and food that tastes like the ocean punched you in the mouth.
—John Noakes, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
To the detriment of the proceedings late in the second act, there is a wad of exposition gristle that brings things full stop in the form of a labored revelation of why Diamond is such a grump and perhaps maybe won’t be one in the future.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
Verb
Simply tear off a sheet of heavy-duty foil, wad it up to form a homemade scouring pad, and get to scrubbing.
—Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2025
Denny Hamlin wad the favorite at +425 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook early Sunday evening, followed by William Byron (+450), Kyle Larson (+500), Ryan Blaney (+700), Tyler Reddick (+800) and Chase Briscoe (+800).
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wad
Cite this Entry
“Wad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wad. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wad
1 of 2 noun1
: a small mass, bundle, or tuft
a wad of cotton
2
: a soft pad or plug used to hold a powder charge in a gun or cartridge
3
a
: a roll of paper money
b
: a large amount (as of money)
spent a wad on clothes
wad
2 of 2 verb
wadded; wadding
1
: to form into a wad or wadding
wad up a handkerchief
2
: to stuff or line with soft material
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