taps 1 of 3

Definition of tapsnext
present tense third-person singular of tap

taps

2 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of tap

taps

3 of 3

noun

plural of tap
as in valves
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 taps
Verb
Think mid-century diner vibes, 70s flower power patterns, vintage advertisements, old-school movie posters, or anything that taps into collective nostalgia. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026 Political without being didactic, the film taps into contemporary anxieties around immigration, power and resistance, delivering tension, spectacle and emotional weight in equal measure. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026 By matching these measurements with high-speed videos, the scientists tracked the woodpeckers’ taps down to every four milliseconds. Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 2 Jan. 2026 Continue reading … RADICAL TIES – Mamdani taps controversial lawyer who defended al Qaeda terrorist for top role. FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025 The first person to finish stands up and taps their drink with the spoon. Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025 The Olympics often taps celebrities to help open and close the Games. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025 To load the product onto the brush, Barnes swirls the tool into the pan twice and taps it twice to prevent fallout. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025 Other significant features on the jet, which as the longest seat length in its class, include a Pur Air system that taps up the cabin air every 90 seconds and a Soleil circadian-rhythm system that adjusts light to reduce fatigue. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2025
Noun
Central Arizona cities have kept the taps flowing to residents without restrictions, even as a 30-year drought deepens on the Colorado River. Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025 Highlights include a military parade, flyover by the Salute Formation Flying Team, military review by the Academy’s Corps of Cadets, wreath presentation and the playing of taps. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025 Kłuskiewicz said Netflix prioritized quality over speed on the making of Heweliusz and this taps into his broader strategy for projects in the region. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025 While a regular trackpad responds only to simple taps, the Trackpad Pro detects different levels of force, recognizes gestures, and delivers a consistent zero-latency response across its entire surface. Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025 Those without running taps turn to the river or rainwater pipes. David Culver, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025 Look at the labels on the taps. Susanne Fowler, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025 Then, in 2003, the iTunes store began selling songs at 99 cents a pop, and in 2008 Spotify’s monthly subscription service opened the taps even wider. Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2025 Crafted out of recyclable and renewable materials, they’re boosted with a Cloudfoam Comfort sockliner, flaunt a suede upper that taps into one of fall 2025’s most desirable materials, and have attractive perforations as part of the design. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taps
valves
Noun
  • The drain outlets feature 40-mm valves for attaching a hose to better manage and direct the drainage flow or connect to a campsite drainage hookup.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 31 Oct. 2025
  • This includes the engine’s cylinder heads, valves, pistons, fuel system pipes, machine gun components, fuselage, the wings and the cockpit panel pieces, according to the BBC.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Taps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taps. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.

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