snapped; snapping
1
a
: to make a sudden closing of the jaws : seize something sharply with the mouth
fish snapping at the bait
b
: to grasp at something eagerly : make a pounce or snatch
snap at any chance
2
: to utter sharp biting words : bark out irritable or peevish retorts
3
a
: to break suddenly with a sharp sound
the twig snapped
b
: to give way suddenly under emotional stress or strain
He snapped under the pressure of the job.
4
a
: to make a sharp or crackling sound
b
: to use your thumb and fingers to make a short sharp sound
People snapped to the beat.
5
: to close or fit in place with an abrupt movement or sharp sound
the lock snapped shut
6
a
: to move briskly or sharply
snaps to attention
b
: to undergo a sudden and rapid change (as from one condition to another)
snap out of it
snapped awake
1
: to seize with or as if with a snap of the jaws
2
: to take possession or advantage of suddenly or eagerly
—usually used with up
shoppers snapping up bargains
3
a
: to retort to or interrupt curtly and irritably
b
: to utter curtly or abruptly
4
: to break suddenly : break short or in two
5
a
: to cause to make a snapping sound
snap a whip
b
: to make a snapping sound by moving (thumb and finger) against one another
c
: to put into or remove from a particular position by a sudden movement or with a sharp sound
snap the lock shut
6
a
: to project with a snap
snapped a spitball across the classroom
b
: to put (a football) in play with a snap
c(1)
: to take photographically
snapping exclusive news pictures—
Current Biography
Current Biography
(2)
: to take a snapshot of
snapped the scenery
1
: an abrupt closing (as of the mouth in biting or of scissors in cutting)
2
a
archaic
: a share of profits or booty
b
: something that brings quick and easy profit or advantage
c
: something that is easy and presents no problems : cinch
3
: a small amount : bit
4
a
: an act or instance of seizing abruptly : a sudden snatching at something
b
: a quick short movement
lithe snaps of its body—Barbara Taylor
Barbara Taylor
c
: a sudden sharp breaking
5
a
: a sound made by snapping something
shut the book with a snap
b
: a brief sharp and usually irritable speech or retort
6
: a sudden spell of weather
a cold snap
7
: a catch or fastening that closes or locks with a click
the snap of a bracelet
8
: a flat brittle cookie compare gingersnap
9
: snapshot
10
11
football
: the act of a center's putting the ball in play from its position on the ground by quickly passing it between the legs back to a teammate (such as a quarterback) : the act of snapping the ball
The quarterback fumbled the snap. [=fumbled the ball when it was snapped to him]
: with a snap
1
: done, made, or carried through suddenly or without deliberation
a snap judgment
2
: called or taken without prior warning
a snap election
3
: fastening with a snap
a snap lock
4
: unusually easy or simple
a snap course
Examples of snap in a Sentence
Verb
The branch snapped and fell to the ground.
The earpiece of his glasses snapped off.
She snapped the twig in two.
The boy snapped the wing off his toy airplane.
The bent tree snapped back into an upright position.
I snapped the lid shut.
She snapped the pieces together.
She snapped her handbag shut.
Noun
I've trained the dog to come to me with a snap of my fingers.
The snap of the bracelet broke.
Adjective
a snap course that even an idiot could pass
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
The coronal magnetic field is therefore constantly under immense strain, and when that strain becomes too great, its tangled magnetic field lines snap open.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
The new post from Ballerini also featured a snap of her and friends painting their pumpkins at night and saying hello to a horse and ended with a silly clip of the singer emerging from the mouth of a blue hippo see-saw on a playground.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025
Rich Campbell, chicagotribune.com, 7 Sep. 2019
Investors look at Snap’s new user numbers as an important metric to gauge the company’s future growth.
—Jonathan Vanian, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2017
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
The collar and three snap buttons on the front offer a more professional vibe, while the ribbed material adds texture.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snap
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Grim left and a short time later a tree branch suddenly snapped off and hit Campbell's car, at which point Grim returned and asked Campbell to join him for coffee once more.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
The coronal magnetic field is therefore constantly under immense strain, and when that strain becomes too great, its tangled magnetic field lines snap open.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
Flueger joked about the moment on Instagram at the time, sharing a snap of Amara on TV.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
The new post from Ballerini also featured a snap of her and friends painting their pumpkins at night and saying hello to a horse and ended with a silly clip of the singer emerging from the mouth of a blue hippo see-saw on a playground.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Roy Robertson-Harris steamrolled center Corey Linsley on his first-quarter sack (4.9 seconds snap-to-throw).
—Rich Campbell, chicagotribune.com, 7 Sep. 2019
Investors look at Snap’s new user numbers as an important metric to gauge the company’s future growth.
—Jonathan Vanian, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2017
Adjective
Coming into the season, the likes of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt were expected to dominate the snap share in the backfield.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
The collar and three snap buttons on the front offer a more professional vibe, while the ribbed material adds texture.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snap
Cite this Entry
“Snap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snap. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snap
1 of 3 verb
snapped; snapping
1
a
: to make a sudden closing of the jaws : seize something sharply with the mouth
fish snapping at the bait
b
: to grasp at something eagerly
snapped at the chance to travel
c
: to take possession of at once
—usually used with up
snap up a bargain
2
: to speak sharply or irritably
snap at a questioner
3
a
: to break or break apart suddenly especially with a sharp sound
the twig snapped
snapped the bone in two
b
: to give way or cause to give way suddenly under stress
the rope snapped
c
: to bring to a sudden end
snapped the opposing team's winning streak
4
: to make or cause to make a sharp or crackling sound
snap a whip
5
a
: to close or fit in place with a quick movement
the lid snapped shut
b
: to put into or remove from a position by a sudden movement or with a snapping sound
snap off a switch
c
: to close by snaps or fasteners
snapped up the snowsuit
6
a
: to move briskly or sharply
snapped to attention
b
: to undergo a sudden and rapid change (as from one condition to another)
snapped out of his bad mood
c
: to put (a football) in play especially by passing or handing backward between the legs
d
: to take a snapshot of
snap
2 of 3 noun1
: a quick closing (as of the mouth in biting or of scissors in cutting)
especially
: a biting or snatching with the teeth or jaws
2
: something that is easy and presents no problems : cinch
3
: a small amount : bit
don't care a snap
4
a
: a sudden snatching at something
b
: a quick short movement
c
: a sudden sharp breaking
5
: a sound made by snapping something
shut the book with a snap
6
: a sudden spell of harsh weather
a cold snap
7
: a catch or fastening that closes or locks with a click
snap of a bracelet
8
: a thin brittle cookie
9
: snapshot
10
: smartness of movement or speech : energy
11
: an act or instance of snapping a football
snap
3 of 3 adjective1
: made suddenly or without careful thought
a snap judgment
2
: shutting or fastening with a click or by means of a device that snaps
a snap lock
3
: unusually easy
a snap course
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