laps 1 of 3

Definition of lapsnext
plural of lap
as in legs
a portion of a trip we were on the last lap of the journey, eagerly heading for home

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laps

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of lap
1
as in washes
to flow along or against the waves gently lapped the sandy shore

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2
3
as in ripples
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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laps

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular 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 laps
Noun
With around 15 laps to go, SVG passed one car to the inside of a turn. Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026 After giving up the lead with 24 laps remaining, van Gisbergen made up 23 spots and nearly 30 seconds in 17 laps. ABC News, 11 May 2026 Lundgaard passed David Malukas with 18 laps to go. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026 Even then, Toyota never had the outright pace of BMW, with the #8 Toyota eventually tumbling out of the top 10 after two stops on consecutive laps. Luke Smith, New York Times, 9 May 2026 With eight laps to go, Elliot led the way, followed by Hamlin and Reddick. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2026 Everyone was trying to balance their dessert plates on their laps, when my 8-year-old niece dropped an entire piece of chocolate cake on the rug. R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025 With just a few laps remaining, race leader Ryan Blaney was on his way to win the Goodyear 400 when Wallace ran into Larson. Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 His 243 laps led are still the most in a NASCAR race since 2000, when Jeff Burton led all 300 laps in a victory at New Hampshire. Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
Value boxes run laps around everything. Corey Merriman, New York Times, 13 May 2026 Activities like big-game fishing, snorkeling with manta rays in nearby Hanifaru Bay, cooking classes, sunrise yoga, and afternoon massages are just some of the options available to guests in between dips in the ocean and laps in the pool. Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026 Hammond High didn’t have a track, so afternoon workouts were done at a track at a nearby junior high or laps around a 3/4-mile loop at Maywood Park. Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 As the presidential election of 2008 kicks into gear and a wave of gentrification laps the neighborhood, Alicia grapples with ambivalence about her future direction, an out-of-town boyfriend, and the allure of a diva on the rise. Hamilton Cain, Time, 4 Apr. 2026 The sparkling Colorado River now laps at the Glen Canyon walls about 180 feet below, completely invisible from a dock that once floated atop the water. Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026 Sorry, dudes, the ladies ran laps around you tonight. José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026 A couple of us swim laps in an outdoor pool, no matter the weather. Lisa Jhung, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026 Reddick fell two laps down for repairs but came roaring back from 27th for his 10th career victory. CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laps
Noun
  • Following a meeting of the minds, Drew Gilbert sent a deep drive to the left-center field warning track, a fly ball that didn’t have the legs to leave the yard.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
  • The ideal bikini should feel supportive in all the right places with high-cut bottoms that elongate the legs while still offering enough coverage to feel secure and flattering.
    Mecca Pryor, Essence, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Rain typically washes pollen out of the air.
    Keerti Gopal, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
  • Scientists at the University of Miami have found that some sargassum, the brown seaweed that regularly washes ashore on Florida's beaches, may have a different origin than previously anticipated.
    Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Based on Every Summer After, the best-selling book by Carley Fortune, the series splashes onto the streamer June 10 with all episodes.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 12 May 2026
  • How To Water Begonias The best time of day to water begonias is in the morning so any water that splashes onto the leaves can dry before the sun goes down.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His impact ripples through foundational pieces still on the Broncos’ roster — Garett Bolles, Courtland Sutton, Surtain and Alex Singleton.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2026
  • These branches receive molecular signals at one end of a neuron and induce the cell to rapidly fire an electrical charge that ripples down the cell body, known as an action potential.
    Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Chagyrskaya 64 has a second cavity, which overlaps a groove in the side of the tooth that looks like trademark evidence of picking.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
  • Reach out to people who engaged with your content, new followers who match your ideal client profile, and second-degree connections whose work overlaps with yours.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where Jena Sims wraps herself in a bow as Brooks Koepka attempts to stay in contention at the PGA Championship.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
  • Engineers at Penn State have created a soft electronic implant that wraps around a major artery and lowers blood pressure using gentle electrical stimulation, offering a possible alternative for patients who fail to respond to medication.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • This mode activates extra horsepower, up to 94 bhp (70 kW), adds fake exhaust noise and bathes the interior in purple light.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Natural light bathes the empty third floor which could be an office space or residential units boasting sweeping views of Sacramento’s downtown, according to a request for proposals released by the city.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Spots for leisure are in no way hard to find; SEA is a stone's throw away from waterfront lounges like Kingfisher, which bubbles with live music, seafood, and a lively clientele, as well as new Italian spot Forno and art space Sachs Gallery.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Cook on a skillet over medium heat using butter or coconut oil and flip once bubbles form.
    Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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