1
a
: a cleansing and emulsifying agent made usually by action of alkali on fat or fatty acids and consisting essentially of sodium or potassium salts of such acids
b
: a salt of a fatty acid and a metal
2
Synonyms
Examples of soap in a Sentence
Noun
Make sure you use soap and water to wash your hands.
The store sells many different brands of liquid soaps.
Her first acting job was on a soap.
Verb
I soap my hair first when I take a shower.
He soaped and rinsed the car.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2024
The book is happily sordid, with the soul of a trashy nighttime soap, and it has been adapted for TV with that same frothy spirit for Hulu starring David Tennant as the wealthy, cigar-chomping media executive whose TV empire ties it all together.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2024
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2024
Don’t try to multitask and rapidly soap up the colander between peeling potatoes.
—Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for soap 
Noun
Grab an empty bucket and fill it with hot water plus a few drops of your favorite dish soap.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2024
The book is happily sordid, with the soul of a trashy nighttime soap, and it has been adapted for TV with that same frothy spirit for Hulu starring David Tennant as the wealthy, cigar-chomping media executive whose TV empire ties it all together.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
Drivers soaped and rubbed down their cars and trucks, apparently unaware of the tragedy that had taken place less than 12 hours before.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2024
Don’t try to multitask and rapidly soap up the colander between peeling potatoes.
—Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for soap
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Soap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soap. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
soap
1 of 2 noun1
: a substance that is usually made by the action of alkali on fat, dissolves in water, and is used for washing
2
: a salt of a fatty acid
3
soap
2 of 2 verb
: to rub soap over or into
Medical Definition
soap
noun1
: a cleansing and emulsifying agent made usually by action of alkali on fat or fatty acids and consisting essentially of sodium or potassium salts of such acids
2
: a salt of a fatty acid and a metal
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