lapped 1 of 2

past tense of lap
1
as in washed
to flow along or against the waves gently lapped the sandy shore

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
as in rippled
to move with a splashing motion a stiff breeze that was causing the lake waters to lap against the hull with some force

Synonyms & Similar Words

lapped

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of lap

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 lapped
Verb
Passed in 1979, the current plan has been lapped not only by Boise’s land-use laws, but also by construction materials, preservation practices and architecture itself. Mark Dee july 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026 The Los Angeles Dodgers lapped the field at 49,536 fans and 4 million for the full season. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 The audience of employees lapped up every word, giggled at every dad joke. Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026 In 2021, then-F1 race director Michael Masi incorrectly applied the rules around such a situation and did not let all lapped runners overtake. Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 7 July 2026 Even then, after days of heavy rain, polluted lagoon water lapped at the edges of the city. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026 In a darkly symbolic moment, he was lapped by his own teammate around Lap 54. Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 7 June 2026 The sitting district attorney appears to have lapped her challengers several times over in fundraising. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas, is an ideal home base for exploring the United States’ closest Caribbean neighbor, thanks to its dreamy beaches lapped by impossibly blue water and resorts ranging from humble to haute. Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapped
Verb
  • Nagiewicz said they were likely washed back out to sea by the incoming tide.
    Ross DiMattei, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That means my greasy microfiber cloths do get washed with my cotton drying towels, along with oven mitts, linen napkins, and the seat pads for my counter stools (my kids somehow manage to trash them every week).
    Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Brighton splashed £30million on then 18-year-old Kostoulas from Olympiacos in his homeland during last year’s summer window.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The rocket's Super Heavy booster detached from the Starship spacecraft about two minutes into the flight, and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico.
    Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Ever since work began on an ICE facility on the outskirts of Gilroy earlier this year, fear has rippled through much of the community.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • An audible gasp rippled through the room after the tally of the votes was announced for BPC-157.
    Alana Semuels, Time, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Layborteaux, who overlapped with Stewart on season 4 of Little House as Ingalls family friend Andy Garvey, asked if her trick worked.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The roles overlapped, but Robb and the mayor’s office insisted there was a firewall between Robb and the mayor regarding the Lineage fire.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In that incident, Gay used a chain wrapped around his hand to fracture the skull of the teen, court records show.
    Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Dining Room For a hint of color, the walls are wrapped in a peachy grass cloth, Elizabeth Dow Home’s Island textile in Sao Miquel.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Another dish to look out for is the seared tuna ($44), bathed in a delectable coconut and brown-butter sauce that’s paired with Jimmy Nardello peppers that look spicy but simply offer a fresh crunch.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Odd dreams of pyramid interiors, bathed in a soft blue light.
    Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hathaway previously addressed the fake pregnancy rumors — which have bubbled up online in recent weeks — at Sunday’s premiere for her latest movie, The End of Oak Street.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The broiling temperatures released toxic gases and hazardous liquid waste that bubbled up to the surface.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • As White’s deep voice enveloped the theater, photographs of protests filled the screens behind her, creating the musical’s most poignant moment.
    Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • On an 1888 rolling historic Victorian estate just off the bustling South Congress Avenue, Hotel Saint Cecilia offers a lavish collection of 20 bungalows, suites, and studios enveloped in a lush canopy of trees.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapped. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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