lap 1 of 3

noun

Definition of lapnext
as in leg
a portion of a trip we were on the last lap of the journey, eagerly heading for home

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lap

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to wash
to flow along or against the waves gently lapped the sandy shore

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2
as in to splash
to flow in a broken irregular stream the creek lapped along through the ravine before collecting in the pond

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to ripple
to move with a splashing motion a stiff breeze that was causing the lake waters to lap against the hull with some force

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lap

3 of 3

verb (2)

1
as in to overlap
to lie over parts of one another the armadillo's plates lap tightly so as to form a protective shield

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2
as in to wrap
to surround or cover closely this recording of the symphony is sure to lap listeners in stereophonic bliss

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lap
Noun
This is not to generate maximum downforce for lap times but to maintain aerodynamic balance and grip as road speeds rise. — New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026 The Audi pair almost had a similar problem when Gabriel Bortoleto spun on a greasy but drying track that also caught out and wrecked Verstappen on the opening lap. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
The race will consist of 147 laps around a course at the east end of the National Mall. — Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Cars made slow turns in the water, sending miniature tides that lapped at the curb. — Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lap
  1. leg
  2. wash
  3. splash
  4. ripple
  5. overlap
  6. wrap
  7. bathe
  8. bubble
Noun
  • In the fifth inning, Soto fouled a ball off his right leg, eliciting a grimace from him and attention from both an athletic trainer and Green.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Cole had noticed the legs of their dining table and the Bakelite switches in Murphy’s house.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of leg
Verb
  • People pointed to enormous rocks that had been washed downriver during the earlier floods, as others standing on a suspension bridge over the water were warned off with whistles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Some pointed to enormous rocks washed downriver during the earlier floods, while others standing on a suspension bridge were warned off with whistles.
    — Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of wash
Verb
  • Quinta de la Rosa Extra Dry White Port Perfumed with a note of pear, this offering is a great lower-alcohol substitute for gin or vodka in most cocktails but equally quaffable when splashed with tonic or seltzer.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • If the lid isn’t perfectly sealed, liquids could splash onto a hot stove.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of splash
Verb
  • Her light ripples and will forever ripple, and will shine even brighter now.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • One of the more surreal responses to that experience is applause, which ripples through the audience of Paranormal Activity a beat after all the major scares, like rain settling in after a peal of thunder.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ripple
Verb
  • Yet these sectors are placing overlapping claims on the same forests and finite land, putting cumulative pressure on an increasingly fragile resource base.
    — Kari Stoever, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Early last season, Unrivaled faced schedule overlaps with major sporting events including the Olympics and the College Football Playoff.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of overlap
Verb
  • At the supply intake area, Yeh saw a new volunteer awkwardly unpacking a package of beans layered two cans deep, wrapped in plastic.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Bel-Air, which wrapped its four-season run in December, is a reimagining of the classic 1990s Will Smith sitcom based on Morgan Cooper’s short fan film of that name.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrap
Verb
  • The famed Big 5 (elephants, buffalos, leopards, rhinos, and lions) are all easily spotted in these lands, but the diverse habitats provide opportunities for different behavioral sightings, from feeding to bathing and mating.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The absence of privacy in these open rooms was a nonissue for the Romans, who also slept, ate, and bathed in view of one another.
    — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of bathe
Verb
  • California air regulators will start tracking estimates of the gases that bubble up from the state’s artificial reservoirs and contribute to climate change.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Think minimal yet colorful wallpaper, moody color palettes, canopy beds, and most importantly, that warm fuzzy feeling that just keeps bubbling up.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of bubble

Phrases Containing lap

Browse Nearby Words

lanyards
lap
lapdog
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Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lap. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lap

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lap

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