tap 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈtap How to pronounce tap (audio)
Definition of tapnext
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically tapped her foot in time to the music kept tapping the desk with his pencil

Synonyms & Similar Words

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tap

2 of 3

verb (2)

as in to drain
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely the oil company tapped that first well completely dry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tap

3 of 3

noun

as in valve
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid turn the tap to the right for cold water and to the left for hot water

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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 tap
Verb
Yellowjackets and Heated Rivalry star Sophie Nélisse has been tapped to lead the upcoming romance series, This Summer Will Be Different, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026 Trump hasn’t publicly stated exactly how the United States might tap Australia’s retirement model. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 July 2026 Other travel booking platforms are dealing with concerns that users might be able to use AI to bypass their services entirely, tapping AI agents to book flights and hotels, build itineraries, and read reviews. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 15 July 2026 To get started, tap the bar, add a prompt using text or voice, and let the AI open a new chat window for back-and-forth conversations. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tap
  1. drum
  2. drain
  3. valve
  4. bang
  5. pump
Verb
  • This three-day festival will feature African dance workshops, drumming lessons, a cultural marketplace and food vendors at East Point City Annex.
    — Kayla Rivera, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
  • Rain drummed against the bus windshield on the drive to Michigan.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 11 July 2026
Definition of drum
Verb
  • Conwell drained a three on his first shot but then missed six in a row, before hitting another three late in the third quarter.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • The promotion dropped on Monday, June 29 and almost immediately, the original $150,000 budget allocated to the promotion was drained —covering some 25,000 pulls.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of drain
Noun
  • Connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome make people vulnerable, while Turner syndrome and other genetic disorders affecting the aorta and aortic valve, place people at high risk of developing an enlarged aorta.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 15 July 2026
  • Special high-flow racing cylinder heads feature CNC porting, competition valves, springs, seats and keepers designed to work with new high-lift/duration cams.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
Definition of valve
Verb
  • For example, Nolan imagined an alarm system for Troy with its citizens banging sheets of metal that would get louder as the Greek threat became more urgent.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • Moshobane outworked Sacramento midfielder Danny Crisostomo for the ball and banged it into the far side of the net.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 12 July 2026
Definition of bang
Verb
  • Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • The aorta is the largest blood vessel in body and the first place blood travels through as it’s pumped from the heart to other parts of the body.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
Definition of pump

Phrases Containing tap

Browse Nearby Words

tantrums
tap
tap-dance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tap. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tap

Nglish: Translation of tap for Spanish Speakers

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