napped; napping
: a hairy, fuzzy, or downy surface (as on a fabric)
British
: a pick or recommendation as a good bet to win a contest (such as a horse race)
also
: one named in a nap
Examples of nap in a Sentence
Verb (1)
decided to let the kids nap for a few more minutes before waking them
I'm just going to nap the entire afternoon
Noun (1)
so tired that she needed to take a refreshing nap before soccer practice
Noun (2)
high-quality suede has a good, even nap
Recent Examples on the Web
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Another sweet snap shows Jenner and her daughter napping together, lying down on what appears to be a towel.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 July 2025
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 July 2025
Use it by the pool, on the lawn, patio, or anywhere else in the backyard for sun tanning, reading, or taking a restful nap.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nap
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Verb
Screenshots of the viral video show Pepper napping in the poster's arms.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Another sweet snap shows Jenner and her daughter napping together, lying down on what appears to be a towel.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 July 2025
Noun
These patterns are muted, simple, and still full of personality, like this pillow cover in indigo which looks exactly suited to a couch in a captain’s quarters, yacht-appropriate, or like a great porch nap pillow along a white rattan sofa.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 July 2025
Use it by the pool, on the lawn, patio, or anywhere else in the backyard for sun tanning, reading, or taking a restful nap.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nap
Cite this Entry
“Nap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nap. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nap
1 of 4 verb
napped; napping
1
: to sleep briefly especially during the day
2
: to be off guard
was caught napping
nap
2 of 4 noun
: a short sleep especially during the day
nap
3 of 4 noun
: a hairy or downy surface on a woven fabric or leather
nappy
adjective
ˈnap-ē
nap
4 of 4 verb
napped; napping
: to raise a nap on fabric or leather
Etymology
Verb
Old English hnappian "to doze"
Noun
Middle English noppe "soft surface on a fabric," from early Dutch noppe "tuft of wool, nap"
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