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
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 June 2026
In Houston, Jeff Wright says his neighbors are already asking him about VPPs after his home system zapped his monthly utility bills to effectively zero.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
Bright Accent Colors For those who want a bolder zap of energy than a cheery pastels can offer, incorporating bright accents can also make a space feel joyful.
—Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 31 May 2026
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
Where Barbie was forced to reconsider Barbieland’s values after paying a visit to the real world, Adam is forced to uphold the real world’s values after being zapped back to a fantasyland whose greatest warriors have been utterly demoralized by their insufficient physical force.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 June 2026
In Houston, Jeff Wright says his neighbors are already asking him about VPPs after his home system zapped his monthly utility bills to effectively zero.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Noun
Microwave the bowl for 20 seconds—your brown sugar should be much softer thanks to the moisture in the paper towel (and if not, add a little more water to the disposable sheet and zap again).
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
Bright Accent Colors For those who want a bolder zap of energy than a cheery pastels can offer, incorporating bright accents can also make a space feel joyful.
—Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for zap
Cite this Entry
“Zap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zap. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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