tap 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈtap How to pronounce tap (audio)
Definition of tapnext
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically tapped her foot in time to the music kept tapping the desk with his pencil

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tap

2 of 3

verb (2)

as in to drain
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely the oil company tapped that first well completely dry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tap

3 of 3

noun

as in valve
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid turn the tap to the right for cold water and to the left for hot water

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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 tap
Verb
The director tapped designer William Roy Hodgson, who works at the Monuments Lab that tracked where and when all those Confederate statues first were erected, to be the film’s chief graphic artist and animator. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 How the review was selected Fader was tapped to put together the 2026 edition, looking at past editions (some sit on her bookshelf) to get a feel for what stories should be featured. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026 In newer versions of Google Photos, selecting the frame or tapping the camera icon can reveal the export control. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Fuel inventories that act as shock absorbers have already been tapped. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tap
  1. drum
  2. drain
  3. valve
  4. bang
  5. pump
Verb
  • The man next to me on Saturday air-drummed the entire show, and a couple behind me kept commenting about how happy Hetfield looked on the big screen during every song.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Reddington sat pensive, drumming his fingers on the defense table.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of drum
Verb
  • Flash flooding is of greatest concern in the Jonas Ridge, Ginger Cake Acres and Pisgah National Forest areas, along with streams and waterways that drain toward Lake James, Burke County officials said.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • On the ground floor, outside the main building, a humanoid was flat on its back after draining its battery during a demo.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of drain
Noun
  • The two valves must then pass one another midway through their strokes, briefly deforming to squeeze past each other before resuming their pumping roles.
    — Mike McRae October 12, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
  • City crews are pumping out water on the streets, rebuilding beach berms and opening tide valves to help mitigate water intrusion.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of valve
Verb
  • On this day in 1960, one of the most shocking and iconic Cold War moments unfolded when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev brandished and banged his shoe at the United Nations.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Kulich stood near the side of the net banging his stick on the ice, and Power found him with the perfect pass.
    — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of bang
Verb
  • In 2025, China pumped $18 billion into Laos’s economy, primarily toward industry, mining and agriculture, according to the Vientiane Times, a local newspaper.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Trees actively pump vital elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium and nitrogen from deep subsoils, into their foliage.
    — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of pump

Phrases Containing tap

Browse Nearby Words

tantrums
tap
tap-dance
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Cite this Entry

“Tap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tap. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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