1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp rebuke or criticism
b
: a negative and often undeserved reputation or charge
—often used with bum or bad
given a bum rap by the press
3
a
: the responsibility for or adverse consequences of an action
refused to take the rap
b
: a criminal charge
c
: a prison sentence
rapped; rapping; raps
1
: to strike with a sharp blow
2
: to utter suddenly and forcibly
3
: to cause to be or come by raps
rap the meeting to order
4
: to criticize sharply
rapped also rapt
ˈrapt 
; rapping; raps
; rapping; raps
: a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
doesn't care a rap
1
: talk, conversation
also
: a line of talk : patter
2
a
or rap music
: a type of music of African American origin in which rhythmic and usually rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment
enjoys listening to rap
—often used before another nounrap music
a rap album/artist/song
b
: a rap song
… the group mixes its usual raunch with mock news reports and anti-censorship raps …—
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles
rapped; rapping; raps
1
intransitive
: to talk freely and frankly
… at a party rapping with a guy about music you love …—Lisa Lombardi
Lisa Lombardi2
transitive + intransitive
: to perform rap music
Does it feel strange to rap solo after being part of a big group like Harlem Spartans?—Kyann-Sian Williams
Kyann-Sian WilliamsShe [Cardi B] encouraged the crowd while her husband [Offset] rapped his verse before she returned the favour and finished the song.—Jonathan Landrum Jr.
Jonathan Landrum Jr.Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Verb (2)
Noun (2)
- beans
- bubkes
- bupkes
- bupkus
- continental
- damn
- darn
- durn
- diddly [slang]
- diddly-squat [slang]
- doodley-squat
- doodly-squat
- fig
- ghost
- hoot
- iota
- jot
- lick
- modicum
- squat [slang]
- syllable
- tittle
- whit
- whoop
Noun (3)
- backchat
- cackle
- causerie
- chat
- chatter
- chin music
- chin-wag [slang]
- chitchat
- confab
- confabulation
- gab
- gabfest
- gossip
- jangle
- jaw
- natter [chiefly British]
- palaver
- patter
- schmooze
- small talk
- table talk
- talk
- tête-à-tête
Verb (3)
Examples of rap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebOmar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
The peppy Disney tune stood in stark contrast to the hard rock and rap songs the other wrestlers use, but his wife found comfort in the selection.
—Stacy St. Clair, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2024
Expand All Dozens of rap, pop and rock artists are hitting the stage this weekend for the inaugural Lovin’ Life Music Fest — and potentially Taylor Swift?
—Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024
The record also references the role of rap media personality DJ Akademiks in this ongoing fuel.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2024
The Game is not impressed with the current rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 2 May 2024
This concert joins a larger effort of prestigious national symphonies bringing in hip-hop artists to fuse the sounds of rap and classical music into a one-of-a-kind performance.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2024
Rats Have Grooming Routines (Credit: Holger Kirk/Shutterstock) Rodents, particularly rats, get a bad rap, especially considering their historical linkage to disease outbreaks like the Black Death.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2024
The biggest rap feud in years has increasingly become vitriolic and personal, and has seen both Drake and Lamar throw unsubstantiated allegations at each other.
—Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Louis Casiano, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024
Imitating the attempts to draw a response from someone inside, prosecutor Smith rapped his knuckles on the jury box wall during his opening statement.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
The disses weren’t even that personal and he’s rapped too many slick lines about being the best for too many years.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
Critics hailed a scene in which Pitt raps (and gets shot by a crossbow) as one of last year’s funniest TV moments.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
Smith and Balvin rapped the song together, while backup dancers dressed as aliens and a giant alien head prop added to the effect.
—Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024
Genres always wax and wane at the fest, with classic rock and EDM giving way to rap and pop.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Ramen House Ryujin, Sacramento Related Articles GOP raps Gov. Newsom as sister’s cafe seeks $16-an-hour busser while fast-food eateries must pay $20
57.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Conflict is certainly in the genre’s DNA; ever since the advent of battle rapping in the early 1980s, hip-hop’s titans have forged their reputation in the heat of lyrical warfare.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Noun
At least two of the sketches were repeats of ones from previous episodes, including a Young Spicy sketch about voice-over artists recording inappropriate rap song intros, and the return of phone number jingle artists Soul Booth at the end of the show.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
The peppy Disney tune stood in stark contrast to the hard rock and rap songs the other wrestlers use, but his wife found comfort in the selection.
—Stacy St. Clair, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2024
Expand All Dozens of rap, pop and rock artists are hitting the stage this weekend for the inaugural Lovin’ Life Music Fest — and potentially Taylor Swift?
—Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024
The record also references the role of rap media personality DJ Akademiks in this ongoing fuel.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2024
The Game is not impressed with the current rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 2 May 2024
This concert joins a larger effort of prestigious national symphonies bringing in hip-hop artists to fuse the sounds of rap and classical music into a one-of-a-kind performance.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2024
Rats Have Grooming Routines (Credit: Holger Kirk/Shutterstock) Rodents, particularly rats, get a bad rap, especially considering their historical linkage to disease outbreaks like the Black Death.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2024
The biggest rap feud in years has increasingly become vitriolic and personal, and has seen both Drake and Lamar throw unsubstantiated allegations at each other.
—Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Young Thug achieved tremendous success after starting to rap as a teenager and serves as CEO of his own record label, Young Stoner Life, or YSL.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024
Imitating the attempts to draw a response from someone inside, prosecutor Smith rapped his knuckles on the jury box wall during his opening statement.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
The disses weren’t even that personal and he’s rapped too many slick lines about being the best for too many years.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
Critics hailed a scene in which Pitt raps (and gets shot by a crossbow) as one of last year’s funniest TV moments.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
Smith and Balvin rapped the song together, while backup dancers dressed as aliens and a giant alien head prop added to the effect.
—Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024
Genres always wax and wane at the fest, with classic rock and EDM giving way to rap and pop.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Ramen House Ryujin, Sacramento Related Articles GOP raps Gov. Newsom as sister’s cafe seeks $16-an-hour busser while fast-food eateries must pay $20
57.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Conflict is certainly in the genre’s DNA; ever since the advent of battle rapping in the early 1980s, hip-hop’s titans have forged their reputation in the heat of lyrical warfare.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rap. Accessed 8 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rap
1 of 5 noun1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp criticism
b
: a bad reputation that is often not deserved
given a bad rap
3
a
: the blame for or unfavorable consequences of an action
took the rap
b
: a criminal charge
a murder rap
rap
2 of 5 verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to give a quick sharp blow : knock
2
: to utter suddenly with force
rap
3 of 5 noun
: the least bit
doesn't care a rap
rap
4 of 5 verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to talk freely and frankly
2
: to perform rap
rap
5 of 5 noun1
: an informal talk : chat, conversation
also
: a line of talk : patter
2
a
: a rhythmic chanting often in unison of usually rhymed couplets to a musical accompaniment
b
: a musical piece so performed
Etymology
Noun
Middle English rappe "a hard blow"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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