1
—used to express a sound made by or as if by a gun
2
—used to indicate a sudden or instantaneous occurrence
zapped; zapping; zaps
1
a
: to get rid of, destroy, or kill especially with or as if with sudden force
b
: to hit with or as if with a sudden concentrated application of force or energy
c
: to irradiate especially with microwaves
2
a
: to propel suddenly or speedily
b
: to transport instantaneously
3
: to avoid watching (something, such as a television commercial) by changing channels especially with a remote control or by fast-forwarding
1
: to move with speed or force
2
: to change television channels using a remote control
Examples of zap in a Sentence
Verb
The flowers were zapped by the cold weather.
The aliens in the movie zapped people from spaceships.
She reheated her muffin by zapping it in the microwave for a few seconds.
I zapped through the channels for a while before falling asleep.
We tape the show so we can zap through the commercials.
Recent Examples on the Web
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
Thus, all of the Face Cards are defeated, leading Mira to be zapped to oblivion.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Sep. 2025
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
The front left tire needs another zap from the torque gun.
—Rob Reed, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zap
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
By around 1966, it was cleared from the US, and Mexico zapped the population in the 1980s.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
Thus, all of the Face Cards are defeated, leading Mira to be zapped to oblivion.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
Skip the office microwave All that stands between you and a hot, homemade lunch is a zap in the microwave.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
The front left tire needs another zap from the torque gun.
—Rob Reed, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zap
Cite this Entry
“Zap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zap. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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