1
2
as in splashed
to flow in a broken irregular stream
the creek lapped along through the ravine before collecting in the pond
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in overlapped
to lie over parts of one another
the armadillo's plates lap tightly so as to form a protective shield
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in wrapped
to surround or cover closely
this recording of the symphony is sure to lap listeners in stereophonic bliss
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lapped
Brian Melley, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
The line of people waiting eagerly to walk dogs lapped the shelter’s parking lot and stretched to the street.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
And yet, they were totally lapped up by the investors and the press.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Ward gives a softly wrenching performance as the protective but roilingly envious Harry, whose own musical dreams were lapped by his brother’s talent, and who must eventually admit the limits of his influence.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Mozambique's coast and its islands are fringed with long, powdery stretches of sand and lapped by warm Indian Ocean waters.
—Lisa Grainger, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
While the Palisades Fire lapped at the edge of UCLA, the Eaton Fire, on the east side of town, came dangerously close to Caltech.
—Katharine Gammon, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
The costs gained from efficiencies are being lapped in next year’s budget and organizations must be willing to encode their own judgment and expertise into systems – or leave that power elsewhere.
—Louisa Loran, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026
Reporters lapped up the stories of the prepared piano that the young James stumbled into by sheer intuition, never having caught wind of John Cage.
—Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Five skiers, including Iivo Niskanen of Finland and Harald Oestberg Amundsen of Norway, dropped out of the race and 14 competitors were lapped.
—Brian Melley, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
The line of people waiting eagerly to walk dogs lapped the shelter’s parking lot and stretched to the street.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
And yet, they were totally lapped up by the investors and the press.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Ward gives a softly wrenching performance as the protective but roilingly envious Harry, whose own musical dreams were lapped by his brother’s talent, and who must eventually admit the limits of his influence.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Mozambique's coast and its islands are fringed with long, powdery stretches of sand and lapped by warm Indian Ocean waters.
—Lisa Grainger, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
While the Palisades Fire lapped at the edge of UCLA, the Eaton Fire, on the east side of town, came dangerously close to Caltech.
—Katharine Gammon, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
The costs gained from efficiencies are being lapped in next year’s budget and organizations must be willing to encode their own judgment and expertise into systems – or leave that power elsewhere.
—Louisa Loran, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026
Reporters lapped up the stories of the prepared piano that the young James stumbled into by sheer intuition, never having caught wind of John Cage.
—Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapped. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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