nap

1 of 6

verb (1)

ˈnap 

napped; napping

intransitive verb

1

: to sleep briefly especially during the day : doze

2

: to be off guard

nap

2 of 6

noun (1)

: a short sleep especially during the day : snooze

nap

3 of 6

noun (2)

: a hairy, fuzzy, or downy surface (as on a fabric)

napless

ˈnap-ləs 

adjective

napped

ˈnapt 

adjective

nap

4 of 6

verb (2)

napped; napping

transitive verb

: to raise a nap on (fabric or leather)

nap

5 of 6

noun (3)

British

: a pick or recommendation as a good bet to win a contest (such as a horse race)

also : one named in a nap

nap

6 of 6

verb (3)

napped; napping

transitive verb

British

: to pick or single out in a nap

Synonyms of nap

Verb (1)

• relax
• rest
• slumber
• snooze
• doze
• catnap

Noun (1)

• wink
• rest
• doze
• siesta
• snooze
• catnap
• bed

Noun (2)

• fur
• pile

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

Verb

Babies had to nap beside fans at full blast because the air conditioning didn't work. —Noel Brennan, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026

Outside a tent, Dunk is told, by two of the show’s jaded yet cheerful prostitutes, that Ser Manfred is busy napping. —Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026

Noun

This menu deserves its own post-nosh nap. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026

Taking a short daytime nap—no longer than half an hour—may also give you the energy to stay up later and sleep later, Miner said. —Jamie Ducharme, Health, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English nappen, from Old English hnappian; akin to Old High German hnaffezen to doze

Noun (2)

Middle English noppe, from Middle Dutch, flock of wool, nap

Noun (3)

from to go nap (to make all the points in the card game Napoleon)

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1608, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1895, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nap

• app
• cap
• chap
• clap
• crap
• flap
• frap
• gap
• hap
• lap
• nappe
• pap

Kids Definition

nap

1 of 4 verb

ˈnap 

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

ˈnap-ē

adjective

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"