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
Relevance
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
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
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
The appeal also taps into something more universal.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
24 June 2026
Buhrdorf taps his experience as a serial entrepreneur in building the ZenBusiness platform.
—
Elaine Pofeldt,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
An InStyle editor taps a stylist to see how the fashion crowd is styling their sports jerseys this season.
—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
In revisiting that story here, Stanton taps into fresh reserves of emotion and also invests the simple, familiar image of a tire swing dangling from a tree with a vast totemic significance.
—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
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
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
24 June 2026
Return your right hand to the floor and repeat on the other side (this time, left hand taps right shoulder).
—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
23 June 2026
If the card is stored somewhere, a scam page may be only a few taps away.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Everybody’s Fly taps into Freddy’s origins as a risk-taking (though uncharacteristically sensible) teenager, his connections to Blondie, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, fellow graffiti pioneer Lee Quiñones.
—
Kyle Eustice,
SPIN,
22 June 2026
In the real world, dealers receive allocations from an automaker’s annual production total based on that dealer’s individual performance, and once those units have been allocated, the taps shut off, no matter how numerous (or how vocal) your customer base may be.
—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
18 June 2026
After Hemingway's closed, the bar held an auction, selling off items from inside the bar like neon signs and beer taps.
—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Geothermal technology taps into pockets of heat rising from the center of the earth, which is then used to spin turbines to generate power.
—
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Bogost’s book taps into a familiar strain of digital exhaustion.
—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
Verb
The game’s appeal also taps into something much older than any trend.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
The appeal also taps into something more universal.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
24 June 2026
Buhrdorf taps his experience as a serial entrepreneur in building the ZenBusiness platform.
—
Elaine Pofeldt,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
An InStyle editor taps a stylist to see how the fashion crowd is styling their sports jerseys this season.
—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
In revisiting that story here, Stanton taps into fresh reserves of emotion and also invests the simple, familiar image of a tire swing dangling from a tree with a vast totemic significance.
—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
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
Noun
Small white lights shine through the fabric to guide your taps.
—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
24 June 2026
Return your right hand to the floor and repeat on the other side (this time, left hand taps right shoulder).
—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
23 June 2026
If the card is stored somewhere, a scam page may be only a few taps away.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Everybody’s Fly taps into Freddy’s origins as a risk-taking (though uncharacteristically sensible) teenager, his connections to Blondie, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, fellow graffiti pioneer Lee Quiñones.
—
Kyle Eustice,
SPIN,
22 June 2026
In the real world, dealers receive allocations from an automaker’s annual production total based on that dealer’s individual performance, and once those units have been allocated, the taps shut off, no matter how numerous (or how vocal) your customer base may be.
—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
18 June 2026
After Hemingway's closed, the bar held an auction, selling off items from inside the bar like neon signs and beer taps.
—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Geothermal technology taps into pockets of heat rising from the center of the earth, which is then used to spin turbines to generate power.
—
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Bogost’s book taps into a familiar strain of digital exhaustion.
—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
17 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.
-
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.
Verb
-
The sensation, and the tranquility that comes with it, will stay with you long after the water drains away.
-
Lavender prefers coarse, sandy soil that drains quickly.
Noun
-
Even receiving heart valves from pigs or cows can trigger some people with the syndrome.
-
Each well site, in turn, is equipped with numerous valves, flanges and other fittings that can leak unless inspected regularly.
Verb
-
When selecting the perfect of-the-moment style for you (Jane Birkin bangs?
-
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.
Verb
-
For Day 5 at Ascot Racecourse, the royal wore the same Eliot Zed pumps from the day before.
-
The Griz constantly pumps the rod to get his bait darting forward and then dropping back.
Cite this Entry
“Taps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taps. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
