lap 1 of 3

as in leg
a portion of a trip we were on the last lap of the journey, eagerly heading for home

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lap

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to wash
to flow along or against the waves gently lapped the sandy shore

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2
as in to splash
to flow in a broken irregular stream the creek lapped along through the ravine before collecting in the pond

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3
as in to ripple
to move with a splashing motion a stiff breeze that was causing the lake waters to lap against the hull with some force

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lap

3 of 3

verb (2)

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 lap
Noun
But this victory lap may be premature. Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025 Robinson defends that scenes of a flashback involving a young Bruce hitting his dad with a baseball bat, or another of a now-adult Springsteen sitting on his father’s lap after a show, all happened exactly as Springsteen described. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
While the conversation has centered on how the sea will lap away at the ice shelves, some scientists are increasingly concerned about what’s happening up top, as warming air melts the ice sheet’s surface. Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025 How about Scott Bosworth, who in the wake of the Plaza Gate catastrophe continues to lap up $242,050 a year at the public trough. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lap
leg
Noun
  • The Softstreme High-rise Wide-leg Cropped Pant has a weighty drape that adds an elegant edge to what otherwise feels like loungewear, given how remarkably soft the Softstreme fabric is.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Rashee Rice offers another layer to this offense, which eases the burden on Mahomes’ legs and makes every other target better.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lap. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

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