lap 1 of 3

Definition of lapnext
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)

1
as in to overlap
to lie over parts of one another the armadillo's plates lap tightly so as to form a protective shield

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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
And for more of a medley, consider three different colorways to line a midcentury-modern lap pool. Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2026 The Plums prickle at the lap-dog insinuation. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Verb
The laps at Pocono are so long that a car won’t be lapped after pitting if within 10 seconds of the leader. Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 13 June 2026 In a darkly symbolic moment, he was lapped by his own teammate around Lap 54. Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lap
Noun
  • Michael Di Poppo was deemed able-bodied by New York City, despite being a double-leg amputee.
    Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • Earlier this spring, the media mogul stepped out in New York City wearing the Crocs Soho Y-Strap Sandals, a platform style that delivers the leg-lengthening effect of heels without the usual discomfort.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Contrary to what those face-washing commercials from our childhood led us to believe, your skin doesn't need to feel tight or squeaky-clean after cleansing.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026
  • For example, using the same cutting board for raw chicken and fresh vegetables without washing it in between can spread bacteria.
    Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • As extreme heat hits Boston, residents are finding ways to stay cool, from splashing in Frog Pond to stocking up on water at Fenway Park, while city officials and utility crews urge people to take precautions.
    Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • White delivery vans with orange Katapulk logos splashed across each side delivered goods all over the island.
    Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Hearing loss may happen in one person's ears, but its effects ripple through every relationship.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 29 June 2026
  • Tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have demonstrated how quickly geopolitical instability can ripple through global energy markets, supply chains and inflation expectations.
    Nosa Omoigui, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • That means defining how and when to see the lights themselves, and how our aurora season overlaps with the polar bears and belugas.
    Cody Chomiak, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • That nine year window overlaps almost exactly with the stretch when treatment offers the most protection for brain health, so the delay carries real cost.
    Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The series just wrapped shooting in Barcelona and moves on to Amsterdam.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 30 June 2026
  • The singer's last headlining trek was the Sweetener World Tour, which wrapped in 2019 after more than 100 performances worldwide.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Joe Kramm | Courtesy of Francis Interiors New York City apartment kitchens are infamously small, and often bathed in white in an attempt to expand the look.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Day broke, bathing everything in light, and so great was the vitality of the early-morning sun that even the unhappy city seemed to smile a wan, sad smile.
    Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The clambake is ready when the clams have fully opened, the potatoes are tender, the broth is bubbling and the sausage is heated through.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Internal emails, group chat messages and meeting minutes obtained by the Miami Herald show the drama that’s been bubbling up in recent months, as county officials, developers and HOA board members have sparred over the future of the land.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lap. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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