1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp rebuke or criticism
b
: a negative and often undeserved reputation or charge
—often used with bum or bad
given a bum rap by the press
3
a
: the responsibility for or adverse consequences of an action
refused to take the rap
b
: a criminal charge
c
: a prison sentence
rapped; rapping; raps
1
: to strike with a sharp blow
2
: to utter suddenly and forcibly
3
: to cause to be or come by raps
rap the meeting to order
4
: to criticize sharply
rapped also rapt
ˈrapt 
; rapping; raps
; rapping; raps
: a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
doesn't care a rap
1
: talk, conversation
also
: a line of talk : patter
2
a
or rap music
: a type of music of African American origin in which rhythmic and usually rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment
enjoys listening to rap
—often used before another nounrap music
a rap album/artist/song
b
: a rap song
… the group mixes its usual raunch with mock news reports and anti-censorship raps …—
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles
rapped; rapping; raps
1
intransitive
: to talk freely and frankly
… at a party rapping with a guy about music you love …—Lisa Lombardi
Lisa Lombardi2
transitive + intransitive
: to perform rap music
Does it feel strange to rap solo after being part of a big group like Harlem Spartans?—Kyann-Sian Williams
Kyann-Sian WilliamsShe [Cardi B] encouraged the crowd while her husband [Offset] rapped his verse before she returned the favour and finished the song.—Jonathan Landrum Jr.
Jonathan Landrum Jr.Examples of rap in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap
the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes
would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend
Verb (1)
a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store
the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant
Verb (2)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
Noun (2)
I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket
Noun (3)
after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park
Verb (3)
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
Recent Examples on the Web
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2025
This growth, from his stoner rap roots to becoming a Hot 100 contender, is something that his fans can take pride in.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2025
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
Further down the scroll are visuals of a hollow-eyed Bieber brazenly smoking a blunt and rapping about getting high.
—Shirley Halperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rap
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
Steel previously represented rap star Young Thug during his RICO trial.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2025
This growth, from his stoner rap roots to becoming a Hot 100 contender, is something that his fans can take pride in.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
Wayne burrows his face into the arm of an accent chair while laughing about unknowingly rapping along to a Drake diss track.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
Further down the scroll are visuals of a hollow-eyed Bieber brazenly smoking a blunt and rapping about getting high.
—Shirley Halperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rap. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rap
1 of 5 noun1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp criticism
b
: a bad reputation that is often not deserved
given a bad rap
3
a
: the blame for or unfavorable consequences of an action
took the rap
b
: a criminal charge
a murder rap
rap
2 of 5 verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to give a quick sharp blow : knock
2
: to utter suddenly with force
rap
3 of 5 noun
: the least bit
doesn't care a rap
rap
4 of 5 verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to talk freely and frankly
2
: to perform rap
rap
5 of 5 noun1
: an informal talk : chat, conversation
also
: a line of talk : patter
2
a
: a rhythmic chanting often in unison of usually rhymed couplets to a musical accompaniment
b
: a musical piece so performed
Etymology
Noun
Middle English rappe "a hard blow"
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