1
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person
the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap
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2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes
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3
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend
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as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park
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as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket
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1
as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store
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2
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant
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as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
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1
as in to entrance
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
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2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of rap
Grant Rindner, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
The most successful of his sprawling New York rap crew, Mayers vaulted to fame in 2011 with a style defined by suave braggadocio and self-mythologizing reminiscent of old-school legends such as Rakim and the Wu-Tang Clan.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Jan. 2025
Bad Bunny’s Next Move For his next project, Bad Bunny could have attempted to reclaim his no. 1 position on Spotify (now occupied by Taylor Swift) by rapping in English or collaborating with superstars.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rap 
Noun
Other MCs who passed around the same time as Miller — like Juice WRLD and XXXTentacion — have released what their estates are calling their final albums, signaling the end of an era in posthumous projects that have played a solemn role in modern rap culture.
—Grant Rindner, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
The most successful of his sprawling New York rap crew, Mayers vaulted to fame in 2011 with a style defined by suave braggadocio and self-mythologizing reminiscent of old-school legends such as Rakim and the Wu-Tang Clan.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
As his truest fans are well aware (and as I’m just told), Chalamet used to do a bit of rapping back in high school for school projects and assemblies.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Jan. 2025
Bad Bunny’s Next Move For his next project, Bad Bunny could have attempted to reclaim his no. 1 position on Spotify (now occupied by Taylor Swift) by rapping in English or collaborating with superstars.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rap
Thesaurus Entries Near rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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