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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of taps
Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The feature taps world knowledge and your listening history to deliver a personalized audio output.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 22 May 2026
The series also taps into the current craze of new-adult stories — that is, focused on characters in that stage of life between teen and full-fledged adulthood — many specifically set in the pressure-cooker environment that college and university settings naturally supply to make romance spark.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026
His new films taps into the mood in his native Russia in 2022 with a twist-laden tale of privilege, betrayal, jealously, primordial survival instinct and compromise in a Russian provincial city.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 May 2026
This campaign also taps into the Fashionphile shop-and-sell model and reflects how circularity with acquiring and reselling within pre-loved luxury is interconnected.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
Completes his own 360 spin, but taps the wall with his left-front, damaging his car’s left steering arm.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Some recipes include orange juice and peach preserves, but ours taps pineapple juice for brightness and sweetness.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
The jelly tote bag taps that same translucent, glossy finish, but with a more elevated, everyday feel.
—Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 7 May 2026
Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Customers want to move money now with a mobile number, an alias, an app or a few taps.
—Muhammad Azeem, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Highlights include the presentation of colors, keynote speakers, taps and a singing of the national anthem.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026
Seabrook said she was touched and will never forget when the haunting melody of taps rang out behind her, played live by a stranger that day at the cemetery in Elburn.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Inside, tables were pushed together while the bar, kitchen equipment and beer taps remained intact.
—Reeti Malhotra
may 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Still, the advisory taps into growing anxiety around kids’ screen time.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 20 May 2026
Here, 24 taps feature a wide range of styles, from hoppy and light to sour, dark, and experimental, with four core beers always on offer.
—Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026
The city, in partnership with the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs, is planning a ceremony with mayoral remarks, the sounding of taps, presentation of colors, wreath placement, volley salute and more.
—Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Verb
This edit taps directly into the Korean skincare influence currently shaping Western beauty routines, with an unusually high number of full-sized products that make the purchase feel substantial rather than sample-led.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The feature taps world knowledge and your listening history to deliver a personalized audio output.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 22 May 2026
The series also taps into the current craze of new-adult stories — that is, focused on characters in that stage of life between teen and full-fledged adulthood — many specifically set in the pressure-cooker environment that college and university settings naturally supply to make romance spark.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026
His new films taps into the mood in his native Russia in 2022 with a twist-laden tale of privilege, betrayal, jealously, primordial survival instinct and compromise in a Russian provincial city.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 May 2026
This campaign also taps into the Fashionphile shop-and-sell model and reflects how circularity with acquiring and reselling within pre-loved luxury is interconnected.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
Completes his own 360 spin, but taps the wall with his left-front, damaging his car’s left steering arm.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Some recipes include orange juice and peach preserves, but ours taps pineapple juice for brightness and sweetness.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
The jelly tote bag taps that same translucent, glossy finish, but with a more elevated, everyday feel.
—Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 7 May 2026
Noun
The large sign on a wall in Jordan Halverson’s office is written in varsity font, like something an athlete taps for good luck on the way out to the field.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Customers want to move money now with a mobile number, an alias, an app or a few taps.
—Muhammad Azeem, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Highlights include the presentation of colors, keynote speakers, taps and a singing of the national anthem.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026
Seabrook said she was touched and will never forget when the haunting melody of taps rang out behind her, played live by a stranger that day at the cemetery in Elburn.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Inside, tables were pushed together while the bar, kitchen equipment and beer taps remained intact.
—Reeti Malhotra
may 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Still, the advisory taps into growing anxiety around kids’ screen time.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 20 May 2026
Here, 24 taps feature a wide range of styles, from hoppy and light to sour, dark, and experimental, with four core beers always on offer.
—Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026
The city, in partnership with the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs, is planning a ceremony with mayoral remarks, the sounding of taps, presentation of colors, wreath placement, volley salute and more.
—Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 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
-
Make sure the soil at the planting site drains within one hour following heavy rain, as peach trees do not tolerate soggy soil.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
-
Field observations noted that a manhole at the location was spilling into an area roughly 100 feet by 10 feet, with runoff entering a stream that drains into the tributary.—
CBS News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Already, the excess heat in the tank has caused the MMA to harden and clog the failing tank’s valves, rendering it impossible for crews to drain the dangerous chemical or add stabilizing agents, Freeman said.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
-
The valves that are usually used to control the tank are gummed up.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Another bangs his head against the wall after expressing suicidal thoughts.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pippa topped the look off with a Stephen Jones veil and a pair of ivory-and-pearl Manolo Blahnik pumps.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
-
Providing the voice of one of the many alien characters is Martin Scorsese, who has some amusing moments with his typically rapid-fire delivery as a nervous street food vendor whom Djarin pumps for information.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taps. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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