cap
noun
slang
: nonsense
… a good point even tho that last part is cap.—
@gamecubep, on X, formerly Twitter
@gamecubep, on X, formerly Twitter
especially
: empty boasting or dishonest talk
—often used in the phrase to call cap (on)
… some continue to call cap on … claims that he was working on a joint album with the late B.I.G. … —Sha Be Allah
see also no cap
Sha Be Allah Note: Usage of this term originated in African American English and has since become widespread.
Examples of cap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sunday afternoon, the Rockies’ veteran left-hander stood on the mound at Coors Field and tipped his cap to the fans serenading him with cheers and applause.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 8 June 2026
The $5,000 annual cap applies to contributions made by family, friends and employers, according to the program's website.
—Ella McCarthy, Arkansas Online, 8 June 2026
Mourners have left candles, flowers, a Chicago flag, a White Sox cap, and other things to remember O'Neil.
—Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 8 June 2026
The 29-year-old has earned 40 caps with the national team since his debut in 2019 and was set to star for his country at Qatar 2022 before a heartbreaking Achilles injury forced him to miss out.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cap
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.
Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 8 June 2026
The $5,000 annual cap applies to contributions made by family, friends and employers, according to the program's website.
—Ella McCarthy, Arkansas Online, 8 June 2026
Mourners have left candles, flowers, a Chicago flag, a White Sox cap, and other things to remember O'Neil.
—Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 8 June 2026
The 29-year-old has earned 40 caps with the national team since his debut in 2019 and was set to star for his country at Qatar 2022 before a heartbreaking Achilles injury forced him to miss out.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cap
Cite this Entry
“Cap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cap. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cap
1 of 2 noun
1
: a head covering
especially
: one that has a visor and no brim
2
: something that serves as a cover or protection for something
a bottle cap
3
: a natural cover or top: as
a
: the umbrella-shaped part that bears the spores of a mushroom
b
: the top of a bird's head
4
: a paper or metal container holding a small explosive charge (as for a toy pistol)
cap
2 of 2 verb
capped; capping
1
: to cover or provide with a cap
2
: to follow with something : outdo
3
: to bring to a conclusion
capped off the show with a song
4
: to prevent from growing or spreading : set a limit on
capped oil prices
Etymology
Middle English cappe "cap," from Old English cæppe "cap," from Latin cappa "head covering, cloak" — related to cape entry 2, chapel
Medical Definition
cap
1 of 3 nounoften attributive
2
: something that serves as a cover or protection especially for a tip, knob, or end (as of a tooth)
3
British
: cervical cap
4
: a cluster of molecules or chemical groups bound to one end or a region of a cell, virus, or molecule
the cell surface receptors were redistributed into caps
cap
2 of 3 verb
capped; capping
1
: to invest (a student nurse) with a cap as an indication of completion of a probationary period of study
2
: to cover (a diseased or exposed part of a tooth) with a protective substance
3
: to form a chemical cap on
the capped end of a messenger RNA
: to form or produce a chemical cap
cap
3 of 3 abbreviation1
capacity
2
capsule
Legal Definition
cap
noun
: an upper limit
a jury found that KAL had committed “willful misconduct,” thus removing the Warsaw Convention's $75,000 cap on damages—Dooley v. Korean Air Lines, 524 U.S. 116 (1998)
Dooley v. Korean Air Lines, 524 U.S. 116 (1998)
cap
verb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
