nap

1 of 6

verb (1)

ˈnap How to pronounce nap (audio)
napped; napping
Synonyms of napnext

intransitive verb

1
: to sleep briefly especially during the day : doze
2
: to be off guard

nap

2 of 6

noun (1)

: a short sleep especially during the day : snooze

nap

3 of 6

noun (2)

: a hairy, fuzzy, or downy surface (as on a fabric)
napless
ˈnap-ləs How to pronounce nap (audio)
adjective
napped
ˈnapt How to pronounce nap (audio)
adjective

nap

4 of 6

verb (2)

napped; napping

transitive verb

: to raise a nap on (fabric or leather)

nap

5 of 6

noun (3)

British
: a pick or recommendation as a good bet to win a contest (such as a horse race)
also : one named in a nap

nap

6 of 6

verb (3)

napped; napping

transitive verb

British
: to pick or single out in a nap

Synonyms

Verb (1)

Noun (1)

Noun (2)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of nap in a Sentence

Verb (1) decided to let the kids nap for a few more minutes before waking them I'm just going to nap the entire afternoon Noun (1) so tired that she needed to take a refreshing nap before soccer practice Noun (2) high-quality suede has a good, even nap
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Keeping babies and toddlers cool in the summer is a big deal, and a fan can really help extend the life of your beach trip (bonus points if your baby can nap at the beach!) Consider a camping fan that can stand on its own and is super sturdy with a long battery life. —Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 28 July 2024 Dewan, 43, shared one photo of Rhiannon, who was born June 14, napping alongside one of the family’s pups. —Marina Watts, Peoplemag, 29 June 2024
Noun
According to the fundraiser, Kuang had just finished his job as a delivery truck driver and went home to take a nap. —Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 6 Aug. 2024 Editor review: Hill House, the brand behind the iconic nap dress, is underrated in the bedding department. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nap 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English nappen, from Old English hnappian; akin to Old High German hnaffezen to doze

Noun (2)

Middle English noppe, from Middle Dutch, flock of wool, nap

Noun (3)

from to go nap (to make all the points in the card game Napoleon)

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1608, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1895, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nap was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near nap

naos

nap

Napa

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Nap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nap. Accessed 2 Sep. 2024.

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Kids Definition

nap

1 of 4 verb
ˈnap How to pronounce nap (audio)
napped; napping
1
: to sleep briefly especially during the day
2
: to be off guard
was caught napping

nap

2 of 4 noun
: a short sleep especially during the day

nap

3 of 4 noun
: a hairy or downy surface on a woven fabric or leather
nappy
ˈnap-ē
adjective

nap

4 of 4 verb
napped; napping
: to raise a nap on fabric or leather
Etymology

Verb

Old English hnappian "to doze"

Noun

Middle English noppe "soft surface on a fabric," from early Dutch noppe "tuft of wool, nap"

More from Merriam-Webster on nap

Nglish: Translation of nap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of nap for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nap

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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