1
2
as in splashes
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 overlaps
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 wraps
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
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 laps
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
John Hunter Nemecheck finished fourth in his first top-five finish of the season and led a race-high 42 laps.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2026
But since each set of tires is needed for fewer laps, they can be worked hard enough to offset that 22-second pit stop and more.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026
It was even used for hot laps during the race weekend for Formula 1’s 2005 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 15 June 2026
In the 109th Indianapolis 500 in 2025, Hunter-Reay led 48 laps, the second most of any driver in the race, but ran out of fuel by using a fuel-stretching strategy late in the race.
—Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Antonelli, looking for a sixth straight win, retired in the final laps when second spot had looked to be his.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Shorten race distance by knocking off a couple of laps where needed, among other less-drastic tweaks.
—Jerry Perez, The Drive, 11 June 2026
Heck, even Tom Busch, Kyle's 51-year-old father, led laps this week.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
The service already laps all its competitors in TV viewing time.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
But three laps before the end, a conrod failure destroyed his engine.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Is that why McLaren couldn’t/didn’t tell the drivers to pit at the end of one of the various formation laps?
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Brack led 66 laps in 1999, Rosenqvist 25 laps on May 24 and Ericsson 13 laps in 2022.
—Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Activities like big-game fishing, snorkeling with manta rays in nearby Hanifaru Bay, cooking classes, sunrise yoga, and afternoon massages are just some of the options available to guests in between dips in the ocean and laps in the pool.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
Hammond High didn’t have a track, so afternoon workouts were done at a track at a nearby junior high or laps around a 3/4-mile loop at Maywood Park.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
As the presidential election of 2008 kicks into gear and a wave of gentrification laps the neighborhood, Alicia grapples with ambivalence about her future direction, an out-of-town boyfriend, and the allure of a diva on the rise.
—Hamilton Cain, Time, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
These special kits dissipate as much heat as possible, so your brakes don’t fade during hot laps at the track or autocross course.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
John Hunter Nemecheck finished fourth in his first top-five finish of the season and led a race-high 42 laps.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2026
But since each set of tires is needed for fewer laps, they can be worked hard enough to offset that 22-second pit stop and more.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026
It was even used for hot laps during the race weekend for Formula 1’s 2005 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 15 June 2026
In the 109th Indianapolis 500 in 2025, Hunter-Reay led 48 laps, the second most of any driver in the race, but ran out of fuel by using a fuel-stretching strategy late in the race.
—Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Antonelli, looking for a sixth straight win, retired in the final laps when second spot had looked to be his.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Shorten race distance by knocking off a couple of laps where needed, among other less-drastic tweaks.
—Jerry Perez, The Drive, 11 June 2026
Heck, even Tom Busch, Kyle's 51-year-old father, led laps this week.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Verb
Wolhers and her daughter were among the 65 people walking laps around the one-third-mile path Saturday at Hinkston Park in the park district’s annual Go Waukegan walk series designed for the purpose that Rachel Wolhers sought.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
The service already laps all its competitors in TV viewing time.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
But three laps before the end, a conrod failure destroyed his engine.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Is that why McLaren couldn’t/didn’t tell the drivers to pit at the end of one of the various formation laps?
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Brack led 66 laps in 1999, Rosenqvist 25 laps on May 24 and Ericsson 13 laps in 2022.
—Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Activities like big-game fishing, snorkeling with manta rays in nearby Hanifaru Bay, cooking classes, sunrise yoga, and afternoon massages are just some of the options available to guests in between dips in the ocean and laps in the pool.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
Hammond High didn’t have a track, so afternoon workouts were done at a track at a nearby junior high or laps around a 3/4-mile loop at Maywood Park.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
As the presidential election of 2008 kicks into gear and a wave of gentrification laps the neighborhood, Alicia grapples with ambivalence about her future direction, an out-of-town boyfriend, and the allure of a diva on the rise.
—Hamilton Cain, Time, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laps
Noun
-
Canada, meanwhile, keeps sending off its starters in favor of fresh legs, with four non-injury substitutions so far.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
-
Stretch your legs before your big road trip with a stroll in Millennium Park, just a five-minute walk from the sign.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Savage showers, washes the dishes in black gloves, takes out the trash and heads out for flowers and lingerie.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
-
After each print, the machine washes the leftover pigment from its gears, turning the once distinctly red and blue dyes into an oozing purple liquid.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The water splashes to the floor.—
Jenny Odell,
Longreads,
2 June 2026
-
In Literature and Painting Playset, 2025, a Cartman-like figure wearing a beret splashes daubs of paint on the screen while a female figure in pilgrim dress delivers a long, disjointed monologue patched together by Kokopeli from Quora posts, art history texts, and other online detritus.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
If one part slows down, the impact ripples across the entire chain.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
The feature, starring Birgit Minichmayr, Lotte Keiling, Tristan López, and Carla Hüttermann, follows a family on summer holiday that are struck by a tragedy that ripples through their lives and relationships.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
That is slightly earlier than — but partially overlaps with — this year’s Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, running July 10-19.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
28 May 2026
-
Recognizing that student cell phone use overlaps with multiple areas (including instruction, student well-being, safety and communication), the district sought to better understand how these priorities are perceived across the educational partner groups, according to a staff report.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The mural that wraps around the room depicts the colorful life of the bar’s namesake, Arabella Huntington, the second wife of railroad magnate Collis Potter Huntington, and the cocktails in the drinks menu are playfully written as fictional entries in Arabella’s diary.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
-
Still, there’s something fitting about a trans teen comedy released in 2026 that wraps things up too soon.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Inside, indirect light bathes the alder-wood paneling in warmth and tranquility.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 June 2026
-
This mode activates extra horsepower, up to 94 bhp (70 kW), adds fake exhaust noise and bathes the interior in purple light.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There is always tension between the two biggest clubs in Spain’s capital city, which sometimes bubbles over — as happened when Alvarez’s ‘double-touch’ penalty was controversially ruled out in the Champions League round-of-16 shootout ultimately won by Real last year.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
February 19 – March 20 Inspiration bubbles up through curious, joyful play.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laps. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
