lap 1 of 4

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 4

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 4

verb (2)

lap (up)

4 of 4

verb (3)

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
For the Ioniq 6 N, Joon Park, boss of Hyundai's N division, told me that the target was running upward of eight five-minute laps in Endurance mode without derating. Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025 Before any questions could be asked, Infantino embarked on a victory lap. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Verb
Bathers can cool off in some of the lower pools, where lapping waves keep the temperatures mild (at high tide, some even become completely submerged), or walk down the beach for a salty cold plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2025 The average viewer’s mind will outright reject it — so, of course, the cartoonishly evil VIPs lap it up. Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lap
leg
Noun
  • The woman was treated for a head and leg injury on site before she was transported in an ambulance to a local hospital.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • The all-you-can-eat experience spares no expense, offering diners delicacies including Alaskan snow crab legs and fresh-shucked oysters; prime rib; and a towering dessert bar that’s piled with parfaits, profiteroles, and mini pies.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lap. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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