snap

1 of 4

verb

ˈsnap 

snapped; snapping

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a sudden closing of the jaws : seize something sharply with the mouth

fish snapping at the bait

b

: to grasp at something eagerly : make a pounce or snatch

snap at any chance

2

: to utter sharp biting words : bark out irritable or peevish retorts

3

a

: to break suddenly with a sharp sound

the twig snapped

b

: to give way suddenly under emotional stress or strain

He snapped under the pressure of the job.

4

a

: to make a sharp or crackling sound

b

: to use your thumb and fingers to make a short sharp sound

People snapped to the beat.

5

: to close or fit in place with an abrupt movement or sharp sound

the lock snapped shut

6

a

: to move briskly or sharply

snaps to attention

b

: to undergo a sudden and rapid change (as from one condition to another)

snap out of it

snapped awake

7

: sparkle, flash

eyes snapping with fury

transitive verb

1

: to seize with or as if with a snap of the jaws

2

: to take possession or advantage of suddenly or eagerly

—usually used with up

shoppers snapping up bargains

3

a

: to retort to or interrupt curtly and irritably

b

: to utter curtly or abruptly

4

: to break suddenly : break short or in two

5

a

: to cause to make a snapping sound

snap a whip

b

: to make a snapping sound by moving (thumb and finger) against one another

c

: to put into or remove from a particular position by a sudden movement or with a sharp sound

snap the lock shut

6

a

: to project with a snap

snapped a spitball across the classroom

b

: to put (a football) in play with a snap

c(1)

: to take photographically

snapping exclusive news pictures

—Current Biography

(2)

: to take a snapshot of

snapped the scenery

snap

2 of 4

noun

1

: an abrupt closing (as of the mouth in biting or of scissors in cutting)

2

a

archaic : a share of profits or booty

b

: something that brings quick and easy profit or advantage

c

: something that is easy and presents no problems : cinch

3

: a small amount : bit

4

a

: an act or instance of seizing abruptly : a sudden snatching at something

b

: a quick short movement

lithe snaps of its body

—Barbara Taylor

c

: a sudden sharp breaking

5

a

: a sound made by snapping something

shut the book with a snap

b

: a brief sharp and usually irritable speech or retort

6

: a sudden spell of weather

a cold snap

7

: a catch or fastening that closes or locks with a click

the snap of a bracelet

8

: a flat brittle cookie compare gingersnap

9

: snapshot

10

a

: the condition of being vigorous in body, mind, or spirit : alertness, energy

b

: a pleasing vigorous quality

11

football : the act of a center's putting the ball in play from its position on the ground by quickly passing it between the legs back to a teammate (such as a quarterback) : the act of snapping the ball

The quarterback fumbled the snap. [=fumbled the ball when it was snapped to him]

snap

3 of 4

adverb

: with a snap

snap

4 of 4

adjective

1

: done, made, or carried through suddenly or without deliberation

a snap judgment

2

: called or taken without prior warning

a snap election

3

: fastening with a snap

a snap lock

4

: unusually easy or simple

a snap course

Synonyms

Verb

• bark
• snarl

Noun

• bang
• blast
• boom
• clap
• crack
• crash
• pop
• report
• slam
• smash
• thunderclap
• thwack
• whack
• whomp
• whump

Adjective

• cheap
• downhill
• easy
• effortless
• facile
• fluent
• fluid
• hands-down
• light
• painless
• ready
• royal
• simple
• smooth
• soft

Examples of snap in a Sentence

Verb

The branch snapped and fell to the ground.

The earpiece of his glasses snapped off.

She snapped the twig in two.

The boy snapped the wing off his toy airplane.

The bent tree snapped back into an upright position.

I snapped the lid shut.

She snapped the pieces together.

She snapped her handbag shut.

Noun

I've trained the dog to come to me with a snap of my fingers.

The snap of the bracelet broke.

Adjective

a snap course that even an idiot could pass

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That was roughly one-fifth of the world's population back then, which was not too far from the level of the Thanos snap in the movie Avengers: Infinity War. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

However, with 15 seconds left, rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball too early, and the Chiefs recovered. —Ryan Morik, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2024

Noun

Here’s how the individual snaps were divided: Quarterback: Brock Purdy 48 Purdy isn’t the greatest bad-weather quarterback. —Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 4 Dec. 2024

New parliamentary elections cannot be held until next June, 12 months after the last snap vote that was called by French President Emmanuel Macron this year. —Jenni Reid, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2024

Adverb

Roy Robertson-Harris steamrolled center Corey Linsley on his first-quarter sack (4.9 seconds snap-to-throw). —Rich Campbell, chicagotribune.com, 7 Sep. 2019

Investors look at Snap’s new user numbers as an important metric to gauge the company’s future growth. —Jonathan Vanian, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2017

Adjective

Roland Lescure, Macron’s industry and energy minister, was on a radio show discussing the election results when a journalist, during an ad break, asked him about a rumor that Macron was planning to call a snap election. —Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024

President Macron had appointed Barnier to head the government only three months ago, after snap elections this summer left no party with a majority in a deeply divided parliament. —Willem Marx, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Dutch or Low German snappen; akin to Middle High German snappen to snap

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1583, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing snap

• cold snap
• snap back
• snap bean
• snap-brim
• snap judgment
• snap-on
• snap out of
• snap out of it
• snap pea
• snap roll
• snap to attention
• snap to it
• snap up
• sugar snap pea

Kids Definition

snap

1 of 3 verb

ˈsnap 

snapped; snapping

1

a

: to make a sudden closing of the jaws : seize something sharply with the mouth

fish snapping at the bait

b

: to grasp at something eagerly

snapped at the chance to travel

c

: to take possession of at once

—usually used with up

snap up a bargain

2

: to speak sharply or irritably

snap at a questioner

3

a

: to break or break apart suddenly especially with a sharp sound

the twig snapped

snapped the bone in two

b

: to give way or cause to give way suddenly under stress

the rope snapped

c

: to bring to a sudden end

snapped the opposing team's winning streak

4

: to make or cause to make a sharp or crackling sound

snap a whip

5

a

: to close or fit in place with a quick movement

the lid snapped shut

b

: to put into or remove from a position by a sudden movement or with a snapping sound

snap off a switch

c

: to close by snaps or fasteners

snapped up the snowsuit

6

a

: to move briskly or sharply

snapped to attention

b

: to undergo a sudden and rapid change (as from one condition to another)

snapped out of his bad mood

c

: to put (a football) in play especially by passing or handing backward between the legs

d

: to take a snapshot of

snap

2 of 3 noun

1

: a quick closing (as of the mouth in biting or of scissors in cutting)

especially : a biting or snatching with the teeth or jaws

2

: something that is easy and presents no problems : cinch

3

: a small amount : bit

don't care a snap

4

a

: a sudden snatching at something

b

: a quick short movement

c

: a sudden sharp breaking

5

: a sound made by snapping something

shut the book with a snap

6

: a sudden spell of harsh weather

a cold snap

7

: a catch or fastening that closes or locks with a click

snap of a bracelet

8

: a thin brittle cookie

9

: snapshot

10

: smartness of movement or speech : energy

11

: an act or instance of snapping a football

snap

3 of 3 adjective

1

: made suddenly or without careful thought

a snap judgment

2

: shutting or fastening with a click or by means of a device that snaps

a snap lock

3

: unusually easy

a snap course