lap 1 of 3

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

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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

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
With less electrical power to deploy, the cars should maintain a higher state of charge throughout a lap. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026 Leclerc cuts the chicane, but which point the chasing George Russell fully erases the 14-second gap Leclerc had when the lap commenced. Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
The neighborhood/area Facing the Arabian Sea, this resort is front and center to gentle breezes and lapping waves. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026 But it will also be lapped up by anyone who can remember the European package holidays of the 1970s. Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lap
Noun
  • Early in the second quarter, the Sun were dealt major blow when Nelson-Ododa went down with an apparent lower right leg injury, briefly leaving rookie Raegan Beers — with three fouls — as the team’s only available center.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
  • The English Football League has charged Southampton with spying on their opponents two days before the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final on Tuesday.
    Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • The next night after the stabbing, an employee at the gas station, who did not witness the incident, told the Daily News that five men appeared to be living in the weed truck — and had been doing so for about 6 months — and most mornings would offer to wash cars being serviced at nearby auto shops.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 13 May 2026
  • Finally, Altmann reminded people to wash their hands well after outdoor activities or cleaning storage areas.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • De-escalate the Crisis Narrative The word crisis is splashed across every headline regarding mental health, but Redding warns that overusing this term can actually hinder our ability to help.
    Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
  • As has been the case in prior tests, the upper stage should splash down in the Indian Ocean if all goes to plan.
    Denise Chow, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • The prices that businesses are paying for goods have risen sharply, according to data released Wednesday, the latest data point showing that knock-on effects from the Iran war are rapidly rippling across the economy.
    Steve Kopack, NBC news, 13 May 2026
  • Instability in several of the world’s most important energy suppliers illustrates how quickly geopolitical crises can ripple through global markets.
    Yu Jie, Time, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • That drone touches down at the address of architect Otone Komoto (Haruka Ayase), who designed her family’s modernist home, an arrangement of overlapping boxes stacked around a garden courtyard.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • The testimony of Shivon Zilis — senior Musk adviser, former OpenAI board member and mother of four of his children — showed how thoroughly personal and professional relationships overlapped inside early OpenAI.
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Rippling streamlines this process by wrapping everything onto one platform, automating payroll, while coordinating with security, IT and HR.
    Ellen Sheng, CNBC, 19 May 2026
  • While Hubbard's face is completely exposed to the camera, the firearm is wrapped in what appears to be a hooded sweatshirt or jacket.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • The Armorer says that after removing his helmet, he can only be redeemed by bathing in the Living Waters on Mandalore.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 May 2026
  • That said, bathing regularly with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser can be helpful.
    Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • In both competitive partisan races and in Democrat-on-Democrat contests, analysts say frustration about the economy is bubbling up from voters.
    Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • Reduce heat to 350° and continue to bake until filling is actively bubbling through the center and biscuits are deep golden brown, 50–65 minutes more.
    Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lap. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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