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
Buyers are in love with this day bed and even can comfortably take naps on it. — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 11 July 2026 Oppressively hot, lie-down-and-take-a-nap hot, hydration-break hot, the kind of hot that deadens feet. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Verb
By then, however, Jaxon was napping at the daycare center across town before an Easter egg hunt planned that afternoon. — Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 21 June 2026 Our itinerary mostly consisted of long lunches, reading (ok—napping), and beach hopping. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, 19 June 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 hotel's gift shop is aptly named Nothing Finer, a wink to the original Delano's famous air-conditioning sign and a reminder that, at its best, this latest version knows exactly when to celebrate its own story.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
  • If James wants to go home to Cleveland, hopefully there are promises — if not wink-wink agreements made — of ownership opportunities with the Cavaliers.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of wink
Noun
  • Gendron said his ancestors were among the first outsiders to settle the island in the 1700s, when three brothers, fur traders all, left Canada and followed the Mississippi south.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Cat fur comes in a wide array of shades, lengths and designs.
    — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of fur
Verb
  • The players have been relaxed in each other’s company and united behind the mission.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Jessica Alba relaxes in the ocean while vacationing in Porto Ercole, Italy on July 7.
    — People Staff, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of relax
Verb
  • At night, the entire dining area converts into a 180 x 90-cm (70 x 35-in) bed perfect for sleeping a child or two.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 July 2026
  • Gosman’s Dock is only an eight-minute drive away, filled with stellar lunch spots (don’t sleep on The Dock Bar).
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • By playing a day earlier and having 24 hours extra rest before the final, yes.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Remember that intensity is relative, so adjust your pace, resistance, and rest intervals as needed.
    — Jenessa Connor, Health, 17 July 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • Former patrons of the bar and other mourners visited the site Tuesday, adding to the growing pile of flowers leaning on the guardrails cordoning off the location of the blaze.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • If your petunias look near death and are headed for the trash pile, don’t give up on them just yet.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 July 2026
Definition of pile
Verb
  • Some, perhaps, slumbered through repetitive regional games and inconsequential friendlies.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 14 June 2026
  • But the nannies had to get up in the night at the sound of my shrieks while my parents slumbered with ear-plugs in.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 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 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nap

Nglish: Translation of nap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nap

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