nap 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of napnext
as in wink
a short sleep so tired that she needed to take a refreshing nap before soccer practice

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nap

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in fur
a soft airy substance or covering high-quality suede has a good, even nap

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nap

3 of 3

verb

ˈnap How to pronounce nap (audio)
1
as in to relax
to sleep lightly or briefly decided to let the kids nap for a few more minutes before waking them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to sleep
to be in a state of sleep I'm just going to nap the entire afternoon

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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 nap
Noun
The crew awakens Hillstrand from a nap to alert him that Ryan is injured. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026 Aim for at least half, though ideally more, of your baby’s naps to be in their bassinet or crib. — Heather Gowen Walsh, Parents, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
The data showed that sperm whales napping near the surface blew bubbles 11 times on average during their naps, compared to three or four times by those whales making a slow ascent. — ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026 There was nothing comfier, or more quintessentially childhood-coded, than wrapping myself in a patchwork throw and napping the entire five-and-a-half-hour drive to the family vacation home in Vermont. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nap
  1. wink
  2. fur
  3. relax
  4. sleep
  5. rest
  6. pile
  7. slumber
  8. doze
Noun
  • Troye Sivan isn’t losing a wink of sleep over the concept of first-week sales.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This flash of color feels like a playful wink—there’s something just a little Wes Anderson about it.
    — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of wink
Noun
  • These cats may be bald, lightly fuzzy or have patches of fur.
    — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Use double-sided tape to attach a faux fur circle to the lid, and embellish the rim with colored tape.
    — Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of fur
Verb
  • Surf, sail and pick up padel For every traveler who wants to kick back and relax on their vacation, there’s another who refuses to sit still.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For example, the customs around attire at the theater have relaxed quite a bit.
    — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of relax
Verb
  • Dogs slept outside and got baths every six months and sometimes disappeared for three days and then came home smelling like Paris Hilton circa 2003, and no one asked any questions.
    — Mimi Montgomery, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Some slept on the floors, others circulated in and out of the air conditioning, and a few children played and ate.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • Montemayor told Campus Insights Media that alcohol disrupts rest at a biological level, fragmenting sleep into short bursts that leave a person feeling drained the following morning.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Shelton said the team previously planned to sit Buxton on Wednesday night to afford him two days of rest before the club starts a stretch of 15 straight games against American League Central opponents.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • Investors worldwide fret that tech firms’ revenues are struggling to keep up with the AI spending spree, which has added substantially to their debt piles, part of the reason some have pivoted to selling equity as Google also did in June.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The kitchen’s electrical oven roasts them during the daytime; they’re then chilled and served cold, with hot sauce, a ramekin of mayonnaise, and a pile of pickle spears.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of pile
Verb
  • In other words, the long-slumbering giant in the US space industry may finally be waking up.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Some, perhaps, slumbered through repetitive regional games and inconsequential friendlies.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Definition of slumber
Noun
  • Available in pink or blue, the toy—which attaches to crib bars or can be situated near your child’s sleeping space—features a relaxing array of sounds, lights, and music, along with gentle motion, to encourage your darling to doze.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 1 July 2026
  • Our thought was probably somebody was going to just want to come in and doze it all down and do something different.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of doze

Browse Nearby Words

nanoseconds
nap
napkin
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Cite this Entry

“Nap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nap. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nap

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nap

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