rap

1 of 6

noun (1)

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

rap

2 of 6

verb (1)

rapped; rapping; raps

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

1
: to strike a quick sharp blow
2
: to make a short sharp sound

rap

3 of 6

verb (2)

rapped also rapt ˈrapt How to pronounce rap (audio) ; rapping; raps

transitive verb

1
: to snatch away or upward
2

rap

4 of 6

noun (2)

: a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
doesn't care a rap

rap

5 of 6

noun (3)

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 noun
rap music
a rap album/artist/song
b
: a rap song
… the group mixes its usual raunch with mock news reports and anti-censorship rapsJon Pareles

rap

6 of 6

verb (3)

rapped; rapping; raps
1
intransitive : to talk freely and frankly
… at a party rapping with a guy about music you love …Lisa Lombardi
2
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
She [Cardi B] encouraged the crowd while her husband [Offset] rapped his verse before she returned the favour and finished the song.Jonathan Landrum Jr.

Examples of rap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Balenci02 and more on our Spotify playlist. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2024 The following year, the project scored a Grammy for best rap album, beating out Nipsey Hussle’s Victory Lap, Travis Scott’s Astroworld, Mac Miller’s Swimming and Pusha T’s Daytona. Check out Budden’s thoughts below. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2024 The inaugural Lovin’ Life Music Festival is a three-day event featuring over 40 rap, rock and pop artists. Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 Their past team-up made history as the first female rap collaboration to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went onto spend four weeks at the top of the charts. Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Resorts World Casino New York City has revealed a $5 billion expansion plan to redevelop the establishment into a full-fledged, Las Vegas-style casino in collaboration with Queens rap legend, Nas. Ime Ekpo, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 So to review: Inside the stoic is a comedian, and inside the comedian is a diligent rap student with a rhyming dictionary and a calculator. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Performances on two main stages will be held, ranging from math raps sung by The Music Notes to a Rainforest Rescue from the Zovargo Animal Show. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 The Memphis rap star runs one of the biggest labels, owns a piece of an MLS team and is looking to build generational wealth like his mentor Jay-Z. Jabari Young, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Both artists rap about the challenges faced coming up in the industry. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 1 Mar. 2024 On the song, Skepta raps readily over African drums and shakers, with the beat by Jae5, the British producer who helmed key tracks at the center of Afroswing, the UK’s hip-hop/Afrobeats hybrid. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024 So rap lyrics that appear to boast about a crime, recruit members or threaten potential witnesses might be admitted in the YSL trial. Bill Hochberg, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Simmons saw Cheeba, whose real name is Edward Sturgis, rap over instrumental tracks at a Harlem club in 1977. Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 The same artist that fans see rapping confidently to his opposition in bulletproof vests, is the Pop that music video directors remember dancing and goofing off between takes. Lotoya Francis, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2024 Sure, Ye is rapping in fuller, more locomotive sentences again, but everything that manages to jump out of the mix does so on whiffed shock value. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 Carlos Santana’s nephew, Jose, has rapped at the events. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2024 After Lil Jon, 53, rapped during the first bit of the song, Ludacris, 46, arrived and finished the hit song and the entire show. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 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.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English rappe

Verb (2)

back-formation from rapt

Noun (2)

perhaps from rap entry 1

Verb (3)

perhaps from rap entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1834, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (3)

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rap was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rap

Cite this Entry

“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rap. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rap

1 of 5 noun
1
: 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 noun
1
: 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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