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
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Recent Examples of laps
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Then there's vigorous physical activity, which includes running, swimming laps and playing basketball.
—Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Boys lying in each other’s laps.
—Andrew Durbin, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
Byron, who has led at every active track but Bristol, was off the pace from the start and finished five laps down.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
The person swimming in the lane next to mine was doing the breaststroke and hit me with her leg, under the lane rope, on two consecutive laps.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
The pole position laps set by Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli in Australia and Japan were noteworthy for the sharp drop in speed at the fastest, famous, points of those circuits because of super clipping.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
And as Denver searches for value with a duller draft outlook post-Waddle, team officials have done significant homework on a slew of prospects who could fall into their laps in the seventh round.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
Initial laps induced jerky handling and lots of body roll.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
The sparkling Colorado River now laps at the Glen Canyon walls about 180 feet below, completely invisible from a dock that once floated atop the water.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Sorry, dudes, the ladies ran laps around you tonight.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
A couple of us swim laps in an outdoor pool, no matter the weather.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026
Reddick fell two laps down for repairs but came roaring back from 27th for his 10th career victory.
—CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Expect countless laps around the 45-meter saltwater stretch, always heated to a comfortable temperature and lined with more loungers than hotel guests.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
The main beach, where clear water laps golden sand and palm trees, still bears her name.
—Elena Clavarino, Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026
Running laps around luxury Hechter wasn’t imagining a Gen Z takeover of her hometown race.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
Its size is particularly noticeable on sea days, and better for quick dips than doing laps.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Then there's vigorous physical activity, which includes running, swimming laps and playing basketball.
—Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Boys lying in each other’s laps.
—Andrew Durbin, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
Byron, who has led at every active track but Bristol, was off the pace from the start and finished five laps down.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
The person swimming in the lane next to mine was doing the breaststroke and hit me with her leg, under the lane rope, on two consecutive laps.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
The pole position laps set by Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli in Australia and Japan were noteworthy for the sharp drop in speed at the fastest, famous, points of those circuits because of super clipping.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
And as Denver searches for value with a duller draft outlook post-Waddle, team officials have done significant homework on a slew of prospects who could fall into their laps in the seventh round.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
Initial laps induced jerky handling and lots of body roll.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Advertisement But objectively, Carter still laps Trump on some key measures.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
The sparkling Colorado River now laps at the Glen Canyon walls about 180 feet below, completely invisible from a dock that once floated atop the water.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Sorry, dudes, the ladies ran laps around you tonight.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
A couple of us swim laps in an outdoor pool, no matter the weather.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026
Reddick fell two laps down for repairs but came roaring back from 27th for his 10th career victory.
—CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Expect countless laps around the 45-meter saltwater stretch, always heated to a comfortable temperature and lined with more loungers than hotel guests.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
The main beach, where clear water laps golden sand and palm trees, still bears her name.
—Elena Clavarino, Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026
Running laps around luxury Hechter wasn’t imagining a Gen Z takeover of her hometown race.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laps
legs
Noun
-
When Ginger sat, Kim noted that her tail tucked forward between her legs like a little seat.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
-
On a runway, dancers duckwalk and spin, stick their hands in the air and wiggle their fingers, then drop into splits and shoot their legs into the air like exclamation marks.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laps. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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