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
Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Dark Arts taps into high-quality ingredients to create custom blends and age them in unconventional barrels.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
This routine is called progressive overload, which taps into the science behind building muscle.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 26 Jan. 2026
Even the name Greenland taps into antiquity thanks to Erik the Red, who was banished here in 982, found a sheltered, green fjord to call home, and named the place Greenland, an embellishment to lure other Norsemen west.
—Tim Neville, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Thompson has said the restaurant, which taps into a booming true-crime fascination, is not intended to glorify violence.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Lehane taps into the paranoia of the 1950s with aplomb, with meticulous research into the McCarthy era.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
So, instead of waiting around for insects to forage above ground, Genlisea taps into the abundance of microbes that live with it in the soil.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The three attacking midfielders in Emery’s set-up are afforded the freedom to drift across the pitch, which taps into Rogers’ ability to find dangerous pockets of space between the lines.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
The Men 50+ supplement taps saw palmetto, spermidine, moldavian dragonhead and tributyrin, aiming to boost collagen renewal, cellular health and stress defense.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
Some of the best local, regional, and global craft beers are on 49 taps, and more than 250 bottles expand the offerings.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Surrounded by filth, the 55-year-old twists his plastic taps regularly, hoping for relief.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Use it in an upward motion with light taps underneath to loosen and release the weight.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
As Maneesh, the doe-eyed Disney Channel alum Karan Brar exudes depressed decency but never quite taps into the messy turmoil that might complicate the coder’s choices.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
NearTap is another clever feature that lets the user adjust the volume level using simple taps of the finger in front of the ear.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Regardless, the hot-button topic of immigration enforcement taps into emotions and fear, said Daniel Lawrence, an associate professor at University of Wisconsin-Superior and a digital media theorist.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Trump taps Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Dark Arts taps into high-quality ingredients to create custom blends and age them in unconventional barrels.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
This routine is called progressive overload, which taps into the science behind building muscle.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 26 Jan. 2026
Even the name Greenland taps into antiquity thanks to Erik the Red, who was banished here in 982, found a sheltered, green fjord to call home, and named the place Greenland, an embellishment to lure other Norsemen west.
—Tim Neville, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Thompson has said the restaurant, which taps into a booming true-crime fascination, is not intended to glorify violence.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Lehane taps into the paranoia of the 1950s with aplomb, with meticulous research into the McCarthy era.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
So, instead of waiting around for insects to forage above ground, Genlisea taps into the abundance of microbes that live with it in the soil.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The three attacking midfielders in Emery’s set-up are afforded the freedom to drift across the pitch, which taps into Rogers’ ability to find dangerous pockets of space between the lines.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
By joining six other states to demand that microplastics be included in the next round of federal monitoring (UCMR 6), Lamont is fighting for our right to know what is in our taps.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
The Men 50+ supplement taps saw palmetto, spermidine, moldavian dragonhead and tributyrin, aiming to boost collagen renewal, cellular health and stress defense.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
Some of the best local, regional, and global craft beers are on 49 taps, and more than 250 bottles expand the offerings.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Surrounded by filth, the 55-year-old twists his plastic taps regularly, hoping for relief.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Use it in an upward motion with light taps underneath to loosen and release the weight.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
As Maneesh, the doe-eyed Disney Channel alum Karan Brar exudes depressed decency but never quite taps into the messy turmoil that might complicate the coder’s choices.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
NearTap is another clever feature that lets the user adjust the volume level using simple taps of the finger in front of the ear.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Regardless, the hot-button topic of immigration enforcement taps into emotions and fear, said Daniel Lawrence, an associate professor at University of Wisconsin-Superior and a digital media theorist.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taps
valves
Noun
-
Leaks from the top of the tank are likely caused by loose or defective valves.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Close inside valves that control the water supply.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taps. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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