napped; napping
: a hairy, fuzzy, or downy surface (as on a fabric)
British
: a pick or recommendation as a good bet to win a contest (such as a horse race)
also
: one named in a nap
Synonyms
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
Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Parma restored the lead just six minutes later, after Juve’s defence was caught napping.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Short naps avoid wake-up grogginess, also known as sleep inertia.
—Carley Millhone, Health, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nap 
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Verb
The return to hallowed ground was also just like any other rally—people bopped around to Kesha and the Killers and napped on the grass or waited in line for funnel cakes.
—Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Parma restored the lead just six minutes later, after Juve’s defence was caught napping.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
The duo love spending their days play fighting in the house or the backyard, chasing after each other, and then curling up for a nap together.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Short naps avoid wake-up grogginess, also known as sleep inertia.
—Carley Millhone, Health, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nap
Articles Related to nap
Dictionary Entries Near nap
Cite this Entry
“Nap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nap. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nap
1 of 4 verb
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
adjective
ˈnap-ē
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"
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