1
as in event
something that happens
we must make the best of both the good and the bad haps of life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in luck
the uncertain course of events
by hap and circumstance, he ended up as a cartoonist in New York
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to happen
to take place
what wondrous events hath happed this Christmas Day?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of hap
Dr. C. E. Kuschel, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
Looking for a slice of hap-Pi-ness?
—Allison Kiehl, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2026
Check out his latest artwork, photos and adventures from the past, and current haps on his website Cory Richards Dot Com.
—Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2025
The stars of 1989's hap-hap-happiest holiday comedy have kept busy since that dysfunctional dinner.
—Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
The company didn’t appear close to understanding the nature of the universe, but per haps that’s coming.
—Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024
With an optical band hap of about 1.74 eV, the perovskite cell demonstrated a power conversion efficiency of 17 percent on its own.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2016
Noun
One false move can lead to trouble, and it hap-pens sooner or later to just about everybody who handles these reptiles.
—Dr. C. E. Kuschel, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
Looking for a slice of hap-Pi-ness?
—Allison Kiehl, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2026
Check out his latest artwork, photos and adventures from the past, and current haps on his website Cory Richards Dot Com.
—Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2025
The stars of 1989's hap-hap-happiest holiday comedy have kept busy since that dysfunctional dinner.
—Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
The company didn’t appear close to understanding the nature of the universe, but per haps that’s coming.
—Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024
With an optical band hap of about 1.74 eV, the perovskite cell demonstrated a power conversion efficiency of 17 percent on its own.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hap
Noun
-
Trump has attended numerous sporting events since beginning his second term, including the Super Bowl in New Orleans two seasons ago, the Daytona 500 and the Ryder Cup.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
-
Although the structure itself has been replaced, the site has been home to community gatherings, events, concerts and celebrations for the past 130 years.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
More candidates are willing to sidestep seniority to try their luck — especially younger progressives.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Whoever wins quarterfinal, wins it all Good luck trying to calculate which teams will play in the quarterfinal on July 9 without getting a popsicle headache.—
Greg Dudek,
Boston Herald,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
With over 16,000 perfect ratings and more than 3,200 five-star reviews, the lightweight quilt is deemed fit for summers in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and more.—
Euna Park,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 May 2026
-
And in the primary bedroom, a Nickey Kehoe quilt exists in the same color family as the vintage rug but in a decidedly opposite pattern.—
Allison Duncan,
Architectural Digest,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
The shooting happened at Madison and Lockwood.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
The case has drawn national attention, fueled by debate over Texas self-defense law, questions surrounding race, competing narratives about what happened beneath a Memorial High School team tent and demonstrations outside the Collin County courthouse.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The other thing that was really interesting is this weeping sickness that Sugi described in the beginning.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
That’s when things went south on the Dodgers.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Saturday’s forecast suggests around a 50% chance of rain in the vicinity of the cave system, as Laos enters its annual rainy season.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Reeve said Kayla McBride led the defensive stand that limited Chicago’s chances in the paint.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Beneath wall text describing Báthory’s ghoulish crimes and her macabre punishment, bloody mannequins in nightshirts, one with its throat hideously cut, sprawl across a counterpane.—
Sam Lipsyte,
Harper’s Magazine ,
27 Apr. 2022
-
The bed was draped in a cranberry-red silk counterpane.—
Jon Meacham,
House Beautiful,
1 Oct. 2013
Verb
-
There was a flurry of excitement; groups of people carrying bottles of sparkling wine were rushing down to the sea.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
In the meantime, there is a World Cup to win and Os Magricos to surpass.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hap. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
