snap

\ ˈsnap

How to pronounce snap (audio)

\

snapped; snapping

Definition of snap

(Entry 1 of 4)

intransitive verb

1a : 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

3a : 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.

4a : 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

6a : 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

7 : sparkle, flash eyes snapping with fury

transitive verb

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 upshoppers snapping up bargains

3a : to retort to or interrupt curtly and irritably

b : to utter curtly or abruptly

4 : to break suddenly : break short or in two

5a : 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

6a : 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

(2) : to take a snapshot of snapped the scenery

snap

Definition of snap (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : an abrupt closing (as of the mouth in biting or of scissors in cutting)

2a 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

4a : an act or instance of seizing abruptly : a sudden snatching at something

b : a quick short movement lithe snaps of its body— Barbara Taylor

c : a sudden sharp breaking

5a : 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

10a : the condition of being vigorous in body, mind, or spirit : alertness, energy

b : a pleasing vigorous quality

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]

snap

Definition of snap (Entry 3 of 4)

: with a snap

snap

Definition of snap (Entry 4 of 4)

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

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about snap

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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: Verb The Browns snap the NFL’s longest playoff drought of 17 years. — Dan Labbe, cleveland, "Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Predictions for Sunday’s game," 3 Jan. 2021 Tinder and kindling needs to be very dry, so snap twigs and branches with your hands, and discard any that bend or split lengthwise. — T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, "10 Ways to Screw Up a Campfire (and How to Fix Them)," 28 Dec. 2020 After your bird is wax-plucked, snap the leg sideways at the joint and give it a strong twist. — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, "How to Wax-Pluck a Wild Goose for Christmas Dinner," 23 Dec. 2020 If a predator grabs a Texas spiny lizard by the tail, the tail can snap off and wiggle to distract the predator while the lizard makes a run for it. — René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, "Texas spiny lizard not as famous as the Texas horned lizard or horny toad, but is a master of disguise with real spunk," 22 Dec. 2020 Put the gifts under the boxes, snap your shot, then get to the business of opening them by simply lifting the boxes. — Stan Horaczek, Popular Science, "2020 is the perfect year to quit wrapping paper," 21 Dec. 2020 Hospitals, often able to pay better wages, snap up registered nurses and nursing assistants from nursing homes. — Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, "They have masks and gloves. There's more testing capacity. What nursing homes really need is more help, advocates say.," 10 Dec. 2020 To use it, just snap the top around the head of your toothbrush, and the UV light automatically fires up. — Christopher Null, Wired, "We Tested 5 Germ-Blasting Toothbrush Sanitizers," 4 Dec. 2020 Or just snap a couple of photos to show the folks at the bike shop. — al, "Gift guide for cyclists: How to keep them on a roll," 2 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun His first offensive snap as an NFL player was that third down run that went for three yards, converting the first down. — Luke Johnson, NOLA.com, "Tommy Stevens, a Saints draft pick this year, makes his NFL debut ... against the Saints," 3 Jan. 2021 On his second snap, a third-and-9 call with the Buckeyes leading 28-14, Johnson launched into the second level and pancaked Clemson safety Ray Thornton. — Nathan Baird, cleveland, "Ohio State football’s unproven freshmen helped break the Clemson curse: Nathan Baird’s observations," 3 Jan. 2021 Blaine Gabbert threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski on his first snap, one play after Detroit running back D'Andre Swift fumbled, and a 22-yard pass to Mike Evans later in the third quarter. — Larry Lage, ajc, "Brady-led Bucs top Lions 47-7 to end 13-year playoff drought," 26 Dec. 2020 Blaine Gabbert threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski on his first snap, one play after Detroit running back D’Andre Swift fumbled, and a 22-yard pass to Mike Evans later in the third quarter. — oregonlive, "Tom Brady’s 4 first-half TD passes leads the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rout over the Detroit Lions: Recap, score, stats and more," 26 Dec. 2020 Blaine Gabbert threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski on his first snap, one play after Detroit running back D’Andre Swift fumbled, and a 22-yard pass to Evans later in the third quarter. — Larry Lage, orlandosentinel.com, "Tom Brady, Bucs thrash Lions, end 13-year playoff drought," 26 Dec. 2020 The Trojans started the championship game horribly, with Slovis throwing an interception to Los Angeles native Deommodore Lenoir on their third snap. — Greg Beachem, chicagotribune.com, "Oregon upsets No. 13 USC 31-24 to win the Pac-12 championship, its 6th conference title in 12 years," 18 Dec. 2020 On his third snap he was sacked by the league’s most ferocious pass-rusher, Aaron Donald. — Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, "It’s not just Alex Smith’s comeback story. His wife, Elizabeth, has scars of her own," 10 Dec. 2020 Rookie Jalen Hurts took his first snap with Wentz on the sideline against Seattle on Monday night and completed a 6-yard pass. — Steve Megargee, Star Tribune, "Eagles seek to end slide, boost playoff hopes at Green Bay," 3 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb Roy Robertson-Harris steamrolled center Corey Linsley on his first-quarter sack (4.9 seconds snap-to-throw). — Rich Campbell, chicagotribune.com, "5 observations from rewatching the Bears’ Week 1 loss to the Packers, including Mitch Trubisky’s moment of truth and the defense’s sack machine," 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, "Snap CEO Evan Spiegel Makes A Case For Slow User Growth," 10 Aug. 2017 During the recession and in the years that followed, SNAP expanded to accommodate the increased number of people who needed food assistance. — Greg Trotter, chicagotribune.com, "Fewer people going hungry in Cook County, but many still need help," 4 May 2017 Snap’s new technology, a 3-D lens, can also change and shift in response to physical objects. — Katie Benner, New York Times, "To Stay Ahead of Facebook, Snap Rolls Out 3-D Features for Messaging," 18 Apr. 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective With a heavy, 12 Personnel package – 1 back, 2 TEs – Alabama can get a good look at the defense pre-snap. — cleveland, "Previewing the Ohio State-Alabama CFP Championship: Jimmies and Joes vs. X’s and O’s," 6 Jan. 2021 Ngakoue left the game with a thigh injury, which explains his lower snap count. — Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens snap-count analysis: Anthony Averett and Tramon Williams fortify injury-riddled secondary," 28 Dec. 2020 If the snap polls conducted after the government’s collapse hold, the party would win fewer than 30 in March. — Noga Tarnopolsky, Los Angeles Times, "As Israel faces 4th election in 2 years, Netanyahu is in the hot seat again," 28 Dec. 2020 Also in the third, Lamb motioned pre-snap and broke inside of a cornerback at the line of scrimmage on a wheel route for 52-yard gain. — Michael Gehlken, Dallas News, "Big games from Michael Gallup and company show how filthy Cowboys’ star receiving trio can be," 27 Dec. 2020 Shanahan said Kittle wouldn’t have his typical workload and would be on a snap count Saturday, declining to provide a specific number. — Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, "49ers’ George Kittle: Coach ‘asked me if I wanted to play ... I said, ‘Hell yes’," 24 Dec. 2020 Get some snap caps and practice at home or practice at the range on clay targets or both. — Dave Hurteau, Field & Stream, "How to Hunt Ruffed Grouse," 24 Dec. 2020 Oil-rich Alberta is considering a snap two-week lockdown, and British Columbia -- an early success story -- has been forced to tighten restrictions too. — Kait Bolongaro, Bloomberg.com, "Covid-19 Cases Surge in Canada, Forcing Tighter Restrictions," 10 Nov. 2020 Doug Pederson's offenses have long incorporated post-snap reads into their attack, and that should only get more common as Hurts spends more time as the starter. — Jeff Nowak, NOLA.com, "Who is Jalen Hurts? Here's what Saints could see from Eagles' new QB in Week 14," 11 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'snap.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

9 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Snap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snap. Accessed 15 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for snap

snap

verb

English Language Learners Definition of snap

(Entry 1 of 3)

: to break quickly with a short, sharp sound

: to move into a specified position with a short, sharp sound

: to close (something) with a fastener and especially with a snap

snap

noun

English Language Learners Definition of snap (Entry 2 of 3)

: a sudden, short, sharp sound caused by something breaking or moving into a new position

: the act of snapping your fingers or the sound made when you snap your fingers

US : a device that fastens something by closing or locking with a short, sharp sound especially : a set of two metal or plastic pieces that fit tightly together when you press them

snap

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of snap (Entry 3 of 3)

: done or made suddenly or without careful thought

See the full definition for snap in the English Language Learners Dictionary

snap

\ ˈsnap

\

snapped; snapping

Kids Definition of snap

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : to break or break apart suddenly and often with a cracking noise The branch snapped.

2 : to grasp or grasp at something suddenly with the mouth or teeth

3 : to speak or utter sharply or irritably “You keep quiet!” snapped Beezus.— Beverly Cleary, Henry Huggins

4 : to make or cause to make a sharp or crackling sound snap a whip

5 : to close or fit in place with a quick movement The lid snapped shut.

6 : to put into or remove from a position suddenly or with a cracking sound She snapped on the light.

7 : to act or be acted on with energy The soldier snapped to attention.

8 : to grasp at something eagerly I snapped at the chance.

9 : to get, take, or buy at once Customers were hoping to snap up a bargain.

10 : to close by means of snaps or fasteners

11 : to take a snapshot of

12 : to make a short sharp sound by quickly moving the middle finger against the thumb

snap

Kids Definition of snap (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a sudden short sharp sound

2 : an act of moving the middle finger against the thumb to make a short sharp sound

3 : something that is easy and presents no problems That job is a snap.

4 : a sudden change in weather a cold snap

5 : a catch or fastening that closes or locks with a click the snap on a purse

7 : a short amount of time … over the hedge he jumped in a snap …— Anna Sewell, Black Beauty

snap

Kids Definition of snap (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : made suddenly or without careful thought a snap decision

2 : closing with a click or by means of a device that snaps a snap lock

3 : very easy

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