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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 private pool and patio was the perfect place for parents to take a mid-day dip during nap time and hammock hanging over a tiny plot of sand provided hours of fun for little ones. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026 If your dream sofa needs to look polished but can also accommodate a serious weekend nap, the Lido Chaise Sectional is built for both. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
How Dominique Dillon Responded to Going Viral Her FOX13 colleague Ernie Freeman leaned into the humor with a Facebook post showing Dillon pretending to nap. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026 There are five sculptures, one for each of de Monteflores’s children; and Fraser herself was a toddler when the paintings on view were made, likely napping, her mother has said, while the work took shape. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 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
  • The weight The Duo weighs 254 grams, about as much as a large apple, which is either a coincidence or somebody in Cupertino is giving us a little wink.
    — Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The artists that Fallon channeled for this album, all of the ’80s rockers and troubadours alike, there had to be a wink.
    — Brendan Menapace, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of wink
Noun
  • Some pieces, such as the black faux fur jacket, would not have been possible to produce even just a few years ago.
    — Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • There's no denying that teacup pets are simply adorable, but looking past the puppy-like fur, veterinarians question the ethics of breeding such a small animal.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fur
Verb
  • Hailey and Justin Bieber also described their favorite ways to relax (the spa), favorite cities (a split between New York and Los Angeles) and favorite holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas).
    — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Lounging and relaxing poolside is taken very seriously with an ample supply of chaise lounges and umbrellas lining all four pools (three family pools and one adults-only pool), and an adjacent private beach and lagoon.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of relax
Verb
  • But don’t sleep on the Bears basically gifting Washington 13 yards to McLaurin on the sidelines to stop the clock with two seconds remaining, setting up all the drama.
    — Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There were museums and theaters, and clubs, and the feeling that the city never slept.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • Crews still need rest, while tanks still require ammunition and maintenance.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • And rest assured, there are those who will be reluctant to drop him now.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • In body camera footage from the rescue, officers can be seen cutting the bolt on the back door of the trailer, revealing the two children and Brown sitting among piles of blankets.
    — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Suckers for a touch of whimsy, the company’s window dressers once garnished a display inspired by the Garde Républicaine, a famous French cavalry division, with a pile of horse manure.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nap

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nap

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