ape

play

noun \ ˈāp \

Definition of ape

1 a :monkey; especially :one of the larger tailless or short-tailed Old World forms

b :any of various large tailless semi-erect primates of Africa and southeastern Asia (such as the chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, or gibbon) — called also anthropoid, anthropoid ape; compare great ape

2 a :mimic

b :a large uncouth person

—

apelike

play \ˈāp-ˌlīk\ adjective

See ape defined for English-language learners

See ape defined for kids

Examples of ape in a Sentence

Her boyfriend's some big ape she met at a party.

Recent Examples of ape from the Web

In the past, Star has worn Nazi paraphernalia, joked about throwing battery acid on a black woman’s face to lighten her complexion, and compared Mexican people to apes.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "Kim Kardashian Is Getting Heat for Saying Fans Should Forgive Jeffree Star’s Racist Past," 15 Aug. 2017
The article says that fossils finds from 6 or 7 million years ago shed light on the ancestors that humans have in common with chimpanzees, but this older fossil will tell researchers much more about the common ancestors of all humans and apes.

— rachel lewis, Time, "13 Million-Year-Old Skull May Reveal What Our Ancestors Looked Like," 10 Aug. 2017
In other words, a Bigfoot: The ape-like creature that cryptozoologists believe roams the nation’s backwoods.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "NC group reports Bigfoot sighting over the weekend northwest of Charlotte," 7 Aug. 2017
Why the reboot of the apes is the smartest and most relevant franchise in blockbuster cinema right now.

— joshua rivera, GQ, "Planet of the Apes Is the Best Movie Series You’re Not Watching," 21 July 2017
But scientists working with birds have long suspected some winged creatures could match the intellect of apes, particularly the wickedly smart ravens, crows and jays –

— william wan, Alaska Dispatch News, "Study shows ravens have complex reasoning skills," 14 July 2017
Or can corvids, like people and great apes, apply it to other activities?

— malcolm ritter, The Seattle Times, "What ‘Thrones’ fans already know: Ravens can see ahead," 13 July 2017
OUT TUESDAY KONG: SKULL ISLAND (Warner) In 1973, a military mission to an island in the South Pacific brings warriors, scientists and a photojournalist face to face with the Land That Time Forgot — and the giant ape who rules there.

— chris foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "What's new on DVD this week: 'Kong: Skull Island,' 'Free Fire,' more," 13 July 2017
This time, Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless colonel (Woody Harrelson).

— Detroit Free Press, "New movies this week: 'War for the Planet of the Apes'," 12 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ape.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ape

Middle English, from Old English apa; akin to Old High German affo ape

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

ape

verb

Definition of ape

aped; aping

transitive verb

:to copy closely but often clumsily and ineptly

—

aper

noun

See ape defined for English-language learners

Examples of ape in a Sentence

She apes the speech and manners of the rich.
was caught aping the substitute teacher's thick accent

Recent Examples of ape from the Web

Not to be outdone by his spokesperson, Tillerson was back to aping Chinese talking points on June 21, in his official statement following the inaugural U.S.-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue.

— chicagotribune.com, "The State Department is tilting dangerously toward China," 25 Aug. 2017
People missing the mutation started figuring out ways to ape it very early on with primitive versions of Sun-In.

— amy larocca, The Cut, "The Politics of Blondness, From Aphrodite to Ivanka," 10 Aug. 2017
The crowd attempted to ape his falsetto on the former but failed hilariously.

— eve barlow, Billboard, "Frank Ocean Brings Out Brad Pitt, Covers Stevie Wonder at FYF Fest 2017 in L.A.," 23 July 2017
That being the case, stop aping the behavior of celebrities and find your own personal owners manual within.

— kimberly garrison, Philly.com, "Workout Wednesday: Celebrity moms' post-pregnancy baby bounce back is NOT the truth!," 18 July 2017
Either way, with War for the Planet of the Apes opening this weekend, the movie stepped into controversy by not just aping the struggle for black liberation but possibly straight appropriating it.

— jason johnson, The Root, "War for the Planet of the Apes," 13 July 2017
The desire to ape the far larger industry in the U.S. is another incentive.

— colin mcclelland, Bloomberg.com, "Hedge-Fund Danger Alert as Canada Prepares for Retail Investors," 9 July 2017
Now, AI is moving into the arts, aping van Gogh’s style and creating a truly trippy art form called Inceptionism.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "AI Project Produces New Styles of Art," 3 July 2017
Desperate to increase returns, some of the world’s most conservative investors are taking bigger risks by aping banks and lending directly to companies.

— jon sindreu, WSJ, "Investors Play the Risky Role of Lender," 15 June 2017

First Known Use of ape

1632

ape Synonyms

Synonyms

imitate, copy, copycat, emulate, mime, mimic

Related Words

ditto, echo, reecho, repeat; burlesque, caricature, lampoon, mock, parody, travesty; impersonate, perform, play; pantomime

Synonym Discussion of ape

copy, imitate, mimic, ape, mock mean to make something so that it resembles an existing thing. copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

- copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

- imitate a poet's style

mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

- pupils mimicking their teacher

ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

- American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

mock usually implies imitation with derision.

- mocking a vain man's pompous manner

ape

adjective

Definition of ape

:crazy, wild —usually used in the phrase go ape

See ape defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of ape from the Web

There's also an interesting hint of ape spirituality developing in War.

— annalee newitz, Ars Technica, "War for the Planet of the Apes," 14 July 2017
There are even a few ape traitors helping out the Colonel’s race war.

— chris nashawaty, PEOPLE.com, "War for the Planet of the Apes," 14 July 2017
Those who knew sign language now talk; and Caesar, the ape leader, is giving Obama-level oratory and is playing the dozens with human adversaries.

— jason johnson, The Root, "War for the Planet of the Apes," 13 July 2017
In fact, his distrust of humans doesn’t extend to the mute orphan, Nova (Amiah Miller), who is welcomed into ape society.

— cary darling, star-telegram, "Is ‘Apes’ more fun than a barrel of monkeys? You bet.," 12 July 2017
Spider-Man: Homecoming heads into theaters this week with 92% approval, followed by Matt Reeves’ War for the Planet of the Apes (out July 14) with a favorable 96% score and praise for Andy Serkis’ motion-capture performance as ape leader Caesar.

— bryan alexander, USA TODAY, "Why summer's best popcorn movies could make Oscar noise this year," 3 July 2017
Once there, the group quickly encounters Kong, who looks much bigger and less ape-like than most previous incarnations --strutting around upright on two legs a la Bigfoot.

— brian lowry, CNN, "'Kong: Skull Island' is bigger, not better," 30 June 2017
On July 21, art collectors and ape lovers alike will have the chance to purchase the art, including pieces from Bubbles, best known as singer Michael Jackson’s former chimpanzee.

— by brooke henderson, miamiherald, "Michael Jackson’s chimp, Bubbles, is a painter. And he’s getting his own show," 28 June 2017
Australopithecus afarensis displays both ape and human features, leading some paleoanthropologists to believe that Lucy probably spent time both in the trees and on the ground.

— adam hoffman, National Geographic, "Did a Fall From a Tree Kill Lucy, Our Famous Ancestor?," 29 Aug. 2016

First Known Use of ape

1955

APE Defined for English Language Learners

ape

play

noun

Definition of ape for English Language Learners

: a type of animal (such as a chimpanzee or gorilla) that is closely related to monkeys and humans and that is covered in hair and has no tail or a very short tail
: a large and stupid or rude person

ape

verb

Definition of ape for English Language Learners

: to copy or imitate (something or someone)

APE Defined for Kids

ape

play

noun \ ˈāp \

Definition of ape for Students

:any of a group of tailless animals (as gorillas or chimpanzees) that are primates most closely related to humans

—

apelike

\ˈāp-ˌlīk\ adjective

ape

verb

Definition of ape for Students

aped; aping

:to imitate (someone) awkwardly

He apes the styles of his favorite actor.

Medical Dictionary

ape

play

noun \ ˈāp \

medical Definition of ape

1 :monkey; especially :one of the larger tailless or short-tailed Old World forms

2 :any of the large tailless semierect primates of Africa and southeastern Asia (as the chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, or gibbon) — called also anthropoid, anthropoid ape