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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as in to drain
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
the oil company tapped that first well completely dry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tap
Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
With a permanent space lined up, Nimmo tapped Toral to be his partner on the pastry side.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The country’s problems were compounded by a water and energy crisis last year that led to dry taps and electricity blackouts.
—Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tap
Verb
Often, a homeowner lines up bridge financing to tap an equity loan without the contingency of having to first sell their own property.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
With a permanent space lined up, Nimmo tapped Toral to be his partner on the pastry side.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
If this is your first time, tap Create Invitation.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The country’s problems were compounded by a water and energy crisis last year that led to dry taps and electricity blackouts.
—Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tap
valve
Noun
-
The government’s offers of dialogue with the protesters ring hollow as it is meant as a pressure valve internationally—for credulous Westerners who believe Iran’s political system is capable of reform—and domestically.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Teams deemed the valve needed to be replaced and the rocket needed to be rolled back from the pad to Boeing’s Vertical Integration Facility.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tap. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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