sap

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈsap 

1

a

: the fluid part of a plant

specifically : a watery solution that circulates through a plant's vascular system

b(1)

: a body fluid (such as blood) essential to life, health, or vigor

(2)

: bodily health and vigor

2

: a foolish gullible person

3

[probably short for sapling] : blackjack, bludgeon

sapless

ˈsa-pləs 

adjective

saplessness

ˈsa-pləs-nəs 

noun

sap

2 of 4

verb (1)

sapped; sapping

transitive verb

1

: to drain or deprive of sap

2

: to knock out with a sap

sap

3 of 4

verb (2)

sapped; sapping

intransitive verb

: to proceed by digging a sap

transitive verb

1

: to subvert by digging or eroding the substratum or foundation : undermine

2

a

: to gradually diminish the supply or intensity of

sapped her strength

b

: to weaken or exhaust the energy or vitality of

the illness sapped him of his stamina

3

: to operate against or pierce by a sap

sap

4 of 4

noun (2)

: the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• energy
• vigor
• juice
• gas

Verb (1)

• weaken
• waste
• soften

Choose the Right Synonym for sap

weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor.

weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health

drugs had sapped his ability to think

disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

Examples of sap in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a child full of sap and vivacity

some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam

the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline

I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years

Verb (1)

weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Suddenly, their star was hobbling, their momentum sapped, their outlook grim. —Zak Keefer, New York Times, 20 June 2025

One draining client can sap energy from an entire week. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

Noun

High up in a tree, a man with a sickle is harvesting sap from a sugar palm, and a few feet off the path, a pair of brown Horsfield’s babbler chicks huddle in a low twig cup, safe from harm. —Lindsey McGinnis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 2025

Some men smeared cedar sap on their faces in a vain effort to repel mosquitoes and deerflies. —/ Cbs News, CBS News, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English sæp; akin to Old High German saf sap

Verb (2)

Middle French sapper, from Old Italian zappare, from zappa hoe

Noun (2)

French sape, from saper

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1642, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sap

• cell sap
• nuclear sap
• sap green
• verb sap
• verbum sap

Rhymes for sap

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

Kids Definition

sap

1 of 2 noun

ˈsap 

1

: the fluid part of a plant

especially : a watery solution that circulates through a higher plant and carries food and nutrients

2

: bodily health and vigor : vitality sense 3b

3

: a foolish person who is easily tricked or cheated

sap

2 of 2 verb

sapped; sapping

1

: undermine sense 2

heavy waves sapped the seawall

2

: to weaken gradually

illness sapped my strength

Medical Definition

sap

see cell sap, nuclear sap