lap 1 of 4

Definition of lapnext
as in leg
a portion of a trip we were on the last lap of the journey, eagerly heading for home

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lap

2 of 4

verb (1)

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

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

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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

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lap

3 of 4

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

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2

lap (up)

4 of 4

verb (3)

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
Antonelli stopped from the lead on lap 37, at which point Hamilton took first place and kept it until the end. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026 Put your bag on your lap or rest it on your feet to take up less space. Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
Verb
The sitting district attorney appears to have lapped her challengers several times over in fundraising. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 Gentle waves lap over your toes, carrying a mix of seaweed and pebbles. Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lap
Noun
  • Then Bryan Reynolds hit a line-drive comebacker off the inside of Wrobleski’s right leg.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
  • Wrobleski left in the fifth inning with a contusion to his right hamstring after taking a comebacker off his leg.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • During a phase of sleep called slow-wave, the brain’s vascular system pulses rhythmically, literally pumping cerebrospinal fluid through its innards and washing them clean.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
  • Dry the shelves and bins washed with soapy water, and return them to the refrigerator.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • The best time to water is early in the morning, so the blooms dry quickly if they are splashed by irrigation.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
  • Then festival goers can dive into a truly iconic surf experience with a community showing of the classic surf flick The Endless Summer splashed on a jumbo screen at Powerhouse Park Saturday night.
    Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Mighty Mary is a rousing story of courage, teamwork and persistence, revealing how one bold act can ripple outward to shift culture, expand possibility and open doors for generations to come.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 17 June 2026
  • That means decisions made by new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh could ripple through the housing market, affecting mortgage rates, home affordability and new home construction.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Symptoms overlap heavily with anxiety, depression and thyroid disorders, and there is no blood test that definitively confirms perimenopause, making clinical identification difficult even when women raise it themselves.
    Allison Palmer Updated June 13, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
  • Most organizations operate across hybrid and multicloud environments with overlapping systems and only partial integration, making unified operations difficult to achieve.
    Scott Fulton, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • She was found under the bed, wrapped in a blanket and concealed by life vests.
    Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 16 June 2026
  • The treat features McDonald's signature apple filling, wrapped in a golden, fried crust.
    Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • The air was freezing, and the town was bathed in the crisp Arctic light of a late-winter sun.
    Ben Taub, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • Even outside of his music career, Tree remained an ambitious and creative individual, from bathing in a tub full of hot Cheetos for a laugh or setting the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest kick scooter in 2020 for real.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Images would appear one after another, vague ideas bubbling up before vanishing with a pop.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • The result can be slow drainage, bubbling water, and gurgling sounds coming from sinks and other fixtures.
    Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lap. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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