as in drums
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 drains
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 taps
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
The story taps into a growing cultural obsession with parasocial relationships, online validation and influencer worship.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
The player taps his cap or helmet to alert the umpire to his desire to challenge the call.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
And as an advocate for mental health awareness, Devora taps into her network of experts with a focus on Gen Z and millennial audiences.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026
The pattern taps into one of summer's biggest trends, but the neutral palette keeps them easy to mix and match with the rest of your suitcase.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Writer-director Richard Kelly taps into the suburban alienation tackled frequently in film at the turn of the 21st century and goes deeper and more disturbing, with a fun sci-fi bent that's helped establish its cult classic status.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
The Intern, described as a sexy, twisty legal thriller about power, corruption and the true nature of justice, taps into Campbell’s background of Harvard University and Stanford Law School graduate.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 June 2026
Soldiers may soon be doing a bit less pack hauling as the US Department of Defense taps American Rheinmetall and Harbinger to develop a new generation of stealthy, inexpensive, and expendable robotic trucks designed to carry cargo to the battlefield.
—David Szondy
june 03, New Atlas, 3 June 2026
Seamus Bozeman
follow, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Bogost’s book taps into a familiar strain of digital exhaustion.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
Cann demonstrated toe taps, scissors, and other ball-handling moves while encouraging the reporter through the lesson.
—Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Occasionally, after a particularly close pitch, a player—usually the batter or the catcher—will challenge the umpire’s call, like this [taps head].
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Or did Earth turn on the taps independently?
—Quanta Magazine, 12 June 2026
Ditto for the electrochromic Sky Control panoramic roof—a $1,050 option—that can change from clear to frosted, and even alternate between stripes of both, with a couple of taps of the screen.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 11 June 2026
After a month without alcohol sales, the taps at City Slickers are flowing once again.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Patrons can follow Mexico playing South Africa on several large TVs, quaffing cold cocktails and mugs from the bar’s 40-something taps.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
Verb
McMahon said Greenberg’s acquisition of The Hartford’s former complex at 1 Griffin Road North taps into a trend seen across the country.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
The story taps into a growing cultural obsession with parasocial relationships, online validation and influencer worship.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
The player taps his cap or helmet to alert the umpire to his desire to challenge the call.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
And as an advocate for mental health awareness, Devora taps into her network of experts with a focus on Gen Z and millennial audiences.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026
The pattern taps into one of summer's biggest trends, but the neutral palette keeps them easy to mix and match with the rest of your suitcase.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Writer-director Richard Kelly taps into the suburban alienation tackled frequently in film at the turn of the 21st century and goes deeper and more disturbing, with a fun sci-fi bent that's helped establish its cult classic status.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
The Intern, described as a sexy, twisty legal thriller about power, corruption and the true nature of justice, taps into Campbell’s background of Harvard University and Stanford Law School graduate.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 June 2026
Soldiers may soon be doing a bit less pack hauling as the US Department of Defense taps American Rheinmetall and Harbinger to develop a new generation of stealthy, inexpensive, and expendable robotic trucks designed to carry cargo to the battlefield.
—David Szondy
june 03, New Atlas, 3 June 2026
Noun
At the Exposition Park, USC Metro E line stop, there was a 598% increase in total rider taps on Friday, compared to a typical day.
—Seamus Bozeman
follow, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Bogost’s book taps into a familiar strain of digital exhaustion.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
Cann demonstrated toe taps, scissors, and other ball-handling moves while encouraging the reporter through the lesson.
—Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Occasionally, after a particularly close pitch, a player—usually the batter or the catcher—will challenge the umpire’s call, like this [taps head].
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Or did Earth turn on the taps independently?
—Quanta Magazine, 12 June 2026
Ditto for the electrochromic Sky Control panoramic roof—a $1,050 option—that can change from clear to frosted, and even alternate between stripes of both, with a couple of taps of the screen.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 11 June 2026
After a month without alcohol sales, the taps at City Slickers are flowing once again.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Patrons can follow Mexico playing South Africa on several large TVs, quaffing cold cocktails and mugs from the bar’s 40-something taps.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taps
Verb
-
Krieger and Densmore, the two surviving members of The Doors, are the backbone of the video, revisiting the signature guitar and drums parts more than a half-century after they were originally laid to wax.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Instead of another room with a priest and young woman growling on the bed, the exorcisms in The Wailing are accompanied by chanting crowds, firepits, and drums beating as a great spectacle is made of the ritual.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Set a clearer end time today so work supports wellbeing rather than drains it.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
Overthinking at work drains emotional energy because your brain never fully relaxes.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
For instance, many heart valves are made from cow or pig parts.—
Matthew Perrone,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
-
Help too far, and the Knicks had release valves.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
When selecting the perfect of-the-moment style for you (Jane Birkin bangs?—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
-
Teal'c takes out some frustrations on an unlucky grunt who bangs him with a door at the start of every time loop, and O'Neill gets to (temporarily) sample the will-they side of his will-they-won't-they relationship with Carter.—
Daryl Baxter,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
These outflows are a critical part of how a black hole pumps energy into its host galaxy and regulates its growth, according to Christopher Reynolds, a professor of astronomy at the University of Maryland, College Park, who was not involved with the study.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
-
Gas pumps at a BP were torn out of the ground.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taps. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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