lapped 1 of 2

past tense of lap
1
as in washed
to flow along or against the waves gently lapped the sandy shore

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
as in rippled
to move with a splashing motion a stiff breeze that was causing the lake waters to lap against the hull with some force

Synonyms & Similar Words

lapped

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of lap

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 lapped
Verb
Even then, after days of heavy rain, polluted lagoon water lapped at the edges of the city. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026 The laps at Pocono are so long that a car won’t be lapped after pitting if within 10 seconds of the leader. Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 13 June 2026 In a darkly symbolic moment, he was lapped by his own teammate around Lap 54. Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 7 June 2026 The sitting district attorney appears to have lapped her challengers several times over in fundraising. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas, is an ideal home base for exploring the United States’ closest Caribbean neighbor, thanks to its dreamy beaches lapped by impossibly blue water and resorts ranging from humble to haute. Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026 The rising water lapped at the wheels of the plane. Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026 Luna, the family’s Labradoodle, waddled in and lapped water from the bowl. Literary Hub, 12 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapped
Verb
  • Thousands of dead Cassin's auklets washed onto beaches across the Pacific Northwest during the same period, another indication that warming ocean conditions had rippled through the ecosystem.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • These alternatives may also be a better solution for some items that can't be washed with liquid fabric softener.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Kyron flashed a wide, toothy grin toward a camera capturing the moment – an image that would soon be splashed on missing child posters and nightly newscasts across the country.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • Paris, Copenhagen, New York, and Los Angeles are awash in the nostalgic pattern right now, where it’s splashed over capri leggings, event dresses, and everything in between.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Thousands of dead Cassin's auklets washed onto beaches across the Pacific Northwest during the same period, another indication that warming ocean conditions had rippled through the ecosystem.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • To root for #TeamBlack is to know that nothing good can come from impulse, and rueful laughter rippled across the lawn as Jace, eager to fight in his mother’s stead, locks Rhaenyra in her chambers to prevent her from risking her life in battle.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • While fashion and beauty have long overlapped, the partnership reflects growing interest from a wider range of brands looking to expand into adjacent categories without building in-house expertise from scratch.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • This month, James was celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Cavaliers’ championship with teammates, a trip that overlapped with Father’s Day.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • To enter this anniversary uncritically — wrapped in flags and the mythology of manifest destiny — is to be bamboozled.
    Otis Moss III, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
  • Whether they’re smothered in pepper jelly, doused in barbecue sauce, or wrapped in bacon, appetizers are your chance to set the tone and impress your guests (because, let’s face it, nothing beats the satisfaction of compliments on your spread).
    Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • When the 13 siblings were rescued, all but the 2-year-old were severely underweight and hadn’t bathed for months.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • Joe Kramm | Courtesy of Francis Interiors New York City apartment kitchens are infamously small, and often bathed in white in an attempt to expand the look.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Discussion about the number Peterson would wear for his rookie season had bubbled since Tuesday night.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2026
  • Since outrage bubbled up in Kenya, some other countries have negotiated shorter terms for sharing data and pandemic specimens, and have inserted additional protections, according to the Public Citizen analysis.
    Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Almost too perfectly, a news release confirming the nuptials was sent out as rain started pouring and a sense of calm enveloped the area.
    Gordon Ebanks, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • From downtown Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley, tens of thousands were enveloped in unhealthful levels of smoke, even as some local officials told residents that the air posed no danger.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapped. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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