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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

lap

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to wash
to flow along or against the waves gently lapped the sandy shore

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to splash
to flow in a broken irregular stream the creek lapped along through the ravine before collecting in the pond

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Around 2020, one of the rarest first movie puppets more or less fell into my lap, which really got the wheels spinning hard. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 June 2026 During the final lap, one hostess appeared to trip and spill them across the floor in a choreographed theatrical fall, abruptly stopping the celebration and startling onlookers. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 22 June 2026
Verb
Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm Campground This trail almost entirely follows the coast for 7 miles, with a soundtrack of lapping waves, trilling loons, and the occasional outboard motor. Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 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 See All Example Sentences for lap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lap
Noun
  • Michael Di Poppo was deemed able-bodied by New York City, despite being a double-leg amputee.
    Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • Earlier this spring, the media mogul stepped out in New York City wearing the Crocs Soho Y-Strap Sandals, a platform style that delivers the leg-lengthening effect of heels without the usual discomfort.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Contrary to what those face-washing commercials from our childhood led us to believe, your skin doesn't need to feel tight or squeaky-clean after cleansing.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026
  • For example, using the same cutting board for raw chicken and fresh vegetables without washing it in between can spread bacteria.
    Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • When so many players are donning pink, arguably the most visible cleats at this year’s tournament are those splashed with any other color.
    Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • If your idea of a bucket-list trip includes your furry friend digging holes in the sand and splashing around in the surf, then add Rehoboth Beach to the top of your list.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Its influence is forecast to ripple around the planet, shifting weather patterns for months to come.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • The central installation, From the Depths of the Sea (2026), features a large photographic image of the ocean suspended on fishing lines, creating a surface that appears to ripple and shift with the viewer’s movement.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Analysis of zinc isotopes preserved in fossilized shark teeth, published in Nature Communications in 2022, found that when great white sharks and megalodon coexisted during the Pliocene, their diets overlapped significantly, both feeding high up the same food chain on marine mammals.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
  • Sporty sneakers are one category where my mom and I regularly overlap, and this sporty pair from Vepose would absolutely cause a borrowing dispute.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • This 12-inch pan is tri-ply, meaning an aluminum core is wrapped in dual layers of stainless steel.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2026
  • Silky tannins are wrapped around flavors of blackberry, black currant, crushed violet petal, and cherry, with a closing note of clove.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Apply lotion or cream soon after bathing to lock in hydration.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026
  • Back on the east coast in New Jersey, six beaches are under swimming advisories due to a high level of enterococci, a type of bacteria that can indicate possible contamination from human or animal waste in bathing water, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
    Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • The bubbling reaction is the result of a chemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with enzymes in the mold.
    Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 25 June 2026
  • So, which one bubbles to the top of the list?
    Jenny Berg, Glamour, 25 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lap. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on lap

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster