tit-tat-toe

4.5

A simple two-player game of X and O on a 3 by 3 grid to make three in a row

noun
/ˈtɪtˌtæˌtoʊ/

Archaic

: tres en raya

She taught her younger brother how to play tit-tat-toe, explaining the rules as they drew the grid.

Examples

He quickly drew a grid on the napkin and challenged me to a game of tit-tat-toe.
During the thunderstorm, the children played tit-tat-toe by candlelight to pass the time.
Although it's a simple game, tit-tat-toe can be surprisingly strategic if both players pay close attention.
Let's play tit-tat-toe!
I love tit-tat-toe because it's so fun.
The two friends enjoyed a thrilling match of tit-tat-toe during their lunch break.
After dinner, the family gathered around the table to play tit-tat-toe as a fun way to spend the evening.

Synonyms

tic-tac-toe

vstit-tat-toe

3 2.2

A simple game for two people where each places Xs or Os to make three in a row

is the same game but with an alternative traditional spelling

ticktacktoo

vstit-tat-toe

3.7

A two-player game where players place Xs and Os to make three in a row

is the same game but shown with a different written form

ticktacktoe

vstit-tat-toe

1.8

A game for two people who take turns marking a 3 by 3 grid to make three in a row

is the same game but uses an alternate naming or spelling

noughts and crosses

vstit-tat-toe

2.5

A two-player game of marking X or O on a 3 by 3 grid to make three in a row

is the same game but used as a different regional name

tick-tack-toe

vstit-tat-toe

1.6

A game for two players who take turns marking a three by three grid to make three in a row

is the same game but specifies the standard 3x3 grid

Surface Forms

tit-tat-toe singular

tit-tat-toes plural

Etymology

The word tit-tat-toe is a playful form of tic-tac-toe made from short sounds like tit, tat, and toe, and a helpful way to remember it is to think of the quick taps or marks players make as they try to get three in a row.