napping 1 of 3

Definition of nappingnext

napping

2 of 3

noun

as in sleep
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself some people think that napping in the afternoon will keep you from sleeping well at night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

napping

3 of 3

verb

present participle of nap

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 napping
Noun
If possible, take some time to journal or meditate (napping would also be valid). Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026 Few studies have tested nap duration time or napping strategies tailored to the unique demands of different occupations. P. Daniel Patterson, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026 Some travelers love vacations that involve doing absolutely nothing—trips where lounging by the beach or pool, napping, reading, or going for a light swim are the most rigorous activities on the agenda. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026 Researchers looked at the napping habits of 20 young adults, focusing on the tiny gaps between neurons called synapses. Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 11 Feb. 2026 Comfy, cozy kitties One of the simplest ways to keep your cat warm in winter is to add blankets to their bed or favorite napping spot. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026 Science has much more to learn about the relationships between napping and health in older adulthood, when daytime napping becomes more common. Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 11 Nov. 2025 From a dog's busy napping schedule while the owner is at work to a cat and canine's vastly different reactions to meeting and all the best canine costumes at the Halloween parade, it's been a spirited week in the pet world. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025 The outpouring was probably what helped reverse the dino-napping. Aishvarya Kavi, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
For older children, napping may reflect individual sleep needs, efforts to make up for shorter nighttime sleep or structured rest periods in after-school programs. Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026 The loose, wide-leg cut is chic enough to wear around the Airbnb and relaxed enough to fall asleep in, while the easy pull-on style makes the transition from all-day exploring to pre-dinner napping seamless. Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026 During the growing season, the more than 240,000 panels of the Clover Creek Solar Project are kept free of sagebrush by sheep that happily graze between the lines, napping in the shade of the panels during the hottest parts of the day. Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026 Leading experts in sleep medicine, such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and numerous public safety professional groups, such as the National Association of EMS Physicians, support napping on duty. P. Daniel Patterson, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026 In turbulent political times, stability comes with four legs, whiskers and a fondness for napping. Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 Outside a tent, Dunk is told, by two of the show’s jaded yet cheerful prostitutes, that Ser Manfred is busy napping. Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026 The low, boxy silhouette is ripe for secret-sharing or cat-napping. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Jan. 2026 The 36-year-old Nickelodeon alum, who reportedly struggles with addiction to meth and habitually turns down local authorities’ offers of treatment and temporary housing, was napping on a stoop Monday, according to footage obtained by TMZ. Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for napping
Adjective
  • An autopsy showed that the infant died from asphyxiation secondary to a co-sleeping/overlay event with an unsafe sleeping environment.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The detainees describe a camp where an average of about 3,000 people have lived per day in loud and unsanitary quarters, diseases spread easily and sleep is a luxury.
    Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Light, sleep, and meal timing influence this clock.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The post featured a precious photo of the prairie dog resting flat on his back on a fuzzy pillow.
    Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2026
  • There was Hell, in the middle of the cover, his right hand resting on his bleeding chest.
    Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • While the main areas can be dramatic and flashy with the disco balls, string lights, and bold colors, the rooms are light and serene—the perfect places to unwind and fall blissfully asleep.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Since many hotels usually have a couple pillows of different firmness levels on a bed, falling and staying asleep won’t be a fever dream no matter your sleeping position.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • There are games galore to keep children entertained, plus a fabulous kid’s den on the top floor of the house with a huge TV and bed-like sofas.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Shawkat, with her warm, amused eyes and her mop of curls, is a perfect carrier for Mae’s air of abjection, flopping around her bed like a horny, gloomy Raggedy Ann.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • High Heel Jungle socks combine luxury comfort with performance features designed for both active and relaxing moments.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The best lounge sets work for more than just relaxing around the house.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Clear, blue skies and tolerable temperatures are enveloping the Pharmalot campus this morning, where the official mascots are snoozing here and there after hunting for breakfast and keeping neighbors at bay.
    Ed Silverman, STAT, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Rather, the cast spend their nights snoozing (or restless) at the Courtyard by Marriott in Inverness.
    Alison McDermott, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • From Ireland to Indonesia, there’s nothing ordinary, or forgettable, about these eight hotel beds where architectural inspiration and sweet slumbers collide.
    Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
  • But, lo and behold, the game survived the pitch clock without Kenesaw Mountain Landis bolting from his slumber, so now comes the ABS challenge to stir the pot even more.
    Kevin Sherrington Mar. 9, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Napping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/napping. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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