as in overlap
a partial covering of one thing by an adjoining member
the lapping of the roofing shingles should be several inches in order to avoid leaks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
2
as in splashing
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 overlapping
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 wrapping
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 lapping
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2026
From my perch on a sun lounger, Friendship Bay stretches out below me – the curve of the powdery sand beach, the impossible blue of the sea and the calming lapping of the waves against the shore.
—Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
As Amanyara’s resident wellness expert guided me through a sound healing session and harmonized the vibrations of a Tibetan singing bowl, the lapping of the ocean waves seemed to still.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
When the lapping reaches your knees, start to worry.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The lapping of the sea at our language is not a difficult concept to fathom.
—Adrian Vore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
So following it up with a powder-soft beach—the lapping of a warm Indian ocean acting as your evening lullaby—is a pretty perfect ending.
—Pippa De Bruyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2025
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
The company’s massive collections of individual data and market-lapping algorithms means the company didn’t need to program to tastes, never mind build an audience.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026
Cassie’s OnlyFans journey begins with her making content posing as a dog, replete with dog ears, collar, leash, wrist cuffs, tail, and a satin corset from Sweeney’s lingerie line SYRN, bending over and lapping up water from a bowl on the ground.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 10 May 2026
With azure water lapping sandy beaches, lazy days spent frolicking in Lake Maggiore are a huge draw.
—Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
The lapping waves that arrive shortly thereafter are an alarming detour, but their presence quickly feels normal.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The Great Lakes boast some of America's niftiest beach areas—and yes, there are actually waves lapping the shore at this Midwest family vacation destination.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Snyder is lapping Brown to start the playoffs.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
As Rahm was lapping the field at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico, LIV fired off a press release announcing that the league would be returning to the same venue in 2027.
—Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
The Wave percale sheets are guaranteed to lull you to sleep, like you’re being rocked by the gentle lapping of the ocean.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2026
From my perch on a sun lounger, Friendship Bay stretches out below me – the curve of the powdery sand beach, the impossible blue of the sea and the calming lapping of the waves against the shore.
—Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
As Amanyara’s resident wellness expert guided me through a sound healing session and harmonized the vibrations of a Tibetan singing bowl, the lapping of the ocean waves seemed to still.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
When the lapping reaches your knees, start to worry.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The lapping of the sea at our language is not a difficult concept to fathom.
—Adrian Vore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
So following it up with a powder-soft beach—the lapping of a warm Indian ocean acting as your evening lullaby—is a pretty perfect ending.
—Pippa De Bruyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
The windows in the treatment rooms offer floor-to-ceiling views of the lake and the soundtrack of water lapping up against old stone columns.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
The company’s massive collections of individual data and market-lapping algorithms means the company didn’t need to program to tastes, never mind build an audience.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026
Cassie’s OnlyFans journey begins with her making content posing as a dog, replete with dog ears, collar, leash, wrist cuffs, tail, and a satin corset from Sweeney’s lingerie line SYRN, bending over and lapping up water from a bowl on the ground.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 10 May 2026
With azure water lapping sandy beaches, lazy days spent frolicking in Lake Maggiore are a huge draw.
—Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
The lapping waves that arrive shortly thereafter are an alarming detour, but their presence quickly feels normal.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The Great Lakes boast some of America's niftiest beach areas—and yes, there are actually waves lapping the shore at this Midwest family vacation destination.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Snyder is lapping Brown to start the playoffs.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
As Rahm was lapping the field at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico, LIV fired off a press release announcing that the league would be returning to the same venue in 2027.
—Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapping
Noun
-
For anyone looking at how structured breathwork and cold exposure connect to circulation, the research on that overlap is worth understanding alongside the dietary basics.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
-
Together, the top 10 brands—Marks & Spencer, Primark, George, Tu, Next, Boohoo, F&F, H&M, New Look and Gap—accounted for 63 percent of the beach samples and 77 percent of the market samples, showing a nearly 60 percent overlap between the two.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In fact, keeping denim looking its best requires not washing them very often at all.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
-
Any washing machine leaks would cause excessive damage to carpet, and the flooring would likely need to be removed and replaced.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The splashing water captured by the camera is abstracted into a nebulous fog that dissolves the profile of a Parisian bridge in the background.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Grown-ups bring a ladder to climb into the enormous fruit, kids gather up their inflatable toys, someone makes a waterslide out of a piece of rind, and the whole community spends the day splashing in the juice and pulp (being careful to remove the seeds first).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Pipsqueaks like Adam, whose rippling muscles and Kylo Ren-sized wingspan the first act of this movie hilariously tries to hide under a loose pink button-down shirt from Beta Gap, are valued for their ability to solve their problems with words instead of violence.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
2 June 2026
-
Inflation fears are rippling through industrial metals.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
On-site activities, like cooking classes and spirits tastings, take place daily at overlapping times (and are almost always booked up, so reserve at least a day in advance), and the live cooking demonstrations always drew a crowd (be sure to grab a plate for the paella).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Inside Toronto’s historic Danforth Music Hall, on a stage littered with ornate rugs and illuminated by dozens of overlapping fuchsia, tangerine, and lavender lights, a vampire is singing a diss track.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
In 2025, soon after closing its merger with Skydance, Paramount clinched a 7-year deal with the UFC as the mixed martial arts circuit was wrapping its deal with ESPN.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
-
Cullen is accused of transporting his mother's deceased body from Lee County to Charlotte County, wrapping her in a rug, weighing it down with cinder blocks, and disposing of it in the river.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The girl’s mother was bathing her other child when the victim tumbled out of the open second-floor apartment window, a police source said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Nerra combines the past and present of bathing culture into four products, The Bathhouse Ritual, that are meant to be used as a system.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
But an unlikely story is bubbling up in the nation as Chinese fans cheer on unlikely amateur soccer players – from delivery drivers to villagers – now playing in packed stadiums back home in a rare sign, some believe, that the Beautiful Game may finally be taking root in the nation.—
Reagan Yip,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
The laughter stops immediately, and a familiar look of bubbling rage returns to Ruben’s eyes.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapping. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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