clapped also clapt; clapping
1
: to strike (two things, such as two flat, hard surfaces) together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise
2
a
: to strike (the hands) together repeatedly usually in applause
b
: applaud
3
: to strike with the flat of the hand in a friendly way
clapped his friend on the shoulder
4
: to place, put, or set especially energetically
clap him into jail
since I first clapped eyes on it
5
: to improvise or build hastily
a hut clapped together from old plywood
Examples of clap in a Sentence
Verb
She clapped in delight when she heard the news.
The audience clapped to the beat of the music.
The conductor clapped her hands twice, and the musicians stopped talking and prepared to play.
He clapped his friend on the shoulder.
He clapped his hand over his mouth when he realized what he had said.
He clapped his hat on his head and went out the door.
She clapped a muzzle on the dog.
The prisoners were clapped in irons.
Noun (1)
a clap of thunder that woke the whole house up
a sharp clap to the head of the disrespectful youth
Recent Examples on the Web
Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
He was also seen as a member of the audience clapping along while Jack Black danced through the crowd during last week's monologue.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
Acousticians often use a hand clap as a cheap substitute for pricey equipment to make acoustic measurements in architecture.
—Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clap
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Verb
Why are the fans suddenly clapping that odd rhythm in unison?
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
He was also seen as a member of the audience clapping along while Jack Black danced through the crowd during last week's monologue.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
Reno piled more than 40 clap tracks onto the production, though the volume of parts involved isn’t necessarily evident in the final cut.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
Acousticians often use a hand clap as a cheap substitute for pricey equipment to make acoustic measurements in architecture.
—Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clap
Cite this Entry
“Clap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clap. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clap
1 of 3 verb
clapped; clapping
1
: to strike noisily : bang
clap two boards together
the door clapped shut
2
: to strike the hands together over and over in applause
3
: to strike with the open hand
clap a friend on the shoulder
4
: to place, put, or set especially energetically
clap him into jail
since I first clapped eyes on it
5
: to make or build hastily
clap together a shelter
clap
2 of 3 noun1
: a sound made by or as if by clapping
a clap of thunder
2
: a friendly slap
a clap on the shoulder
clap
3 of 3 noun
: gonorrhea
—often used with the
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