laps 1 of 3

noun

plural of lap
as in legs
a portion of a trip we were on the last lap of the journey, eagerly heading for home

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laps

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of lap
1
as in washes
to flow along or against the waves gently lapped the sandy shore

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2
as in splashes
to flow in a broken irregular stream the creek lapped along through the ravine before collecting in the pond

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ripples
to move with a splashing motion a stiff breeze that was causing the lake waters to lap against the hull with some force

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laps

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of lap
1
as in overlaps
to lie over parts of one another the armadillo's plates lap tightly so as to form a protective shield

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2
as in wraps
to surround or cover closely this recording of the symphony is sure to lap listeners in stereophonic bliss

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of laps
Noun
Team President Jill Gregory highlighted the importance of consistency and Ericsson's strong 2026 season, which includes his first NTT P1 Award, a podium finish, six top 10s, and 132 laps led. — Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Some players take laps around the track or listen to music, but Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy’s pre-game ritual is different. — Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 The grand prix is going from 125 laps to 147 laps, meaning the race will now be 250 miles. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 Thanks mostly to Caitlin Clark falling into their laps, attendance is up, there's more revenue in the sport and media attention has grown exponentially. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 The cars can go up to 40 mph and can do 10 to 14 laps in six minutes. — Kristine Sorensen, CBS News, 30 July 2026 Walking laps in the shallow end, treading water or joining a water aerobics class can all provide an effective workout. — Patricia Neligan, AJC.com, 27 July 2026 But any hope Piastri had of staying in contention against Norris was extinguished in his bizarre clash with Carlos Sainz, the Williams driver Piastri was coming up to lap a few laps after his second stop. — Luke Smith, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Verb
Today, just a shallow pool laps around the base of the 336 marble columns that support the structure. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026 Two laps later, Verstappen made a late move under braking, diving past the Ferrari at Turn 1. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 28 July 2026 To focus on your upper body, use a pull buoy between your legs while swimming laps. — Patricia Neligan, AJC.com, 27 July 2026 Adult cats that haven’t nursed in over a decade will still knead blankets, laps and each other, with no milk anywhere in the picture. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Trump’s announcement took some off guard and upended the housing victory laps lawmakers had planned. — Cq Roll Call, Boston Herald, 24 June 2026 Wolhers and her daughter were among the 65 people walking laps around the one-third-mile path Saturday at Hinkston Park in the park district’s annual Go Waukegan walk series designed for the purpose that Rachel Wolhers sought. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026 The service already laps all its competitors in TV viewing time. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026 But three laps before the end, a conrod failure destroyed his engine. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laps
  1. legs
  2. washes
  3. splashes
  4. ripples
  5. overlaps
  6. wraps
  7. bathes
  8. bubbles
Noun
  • Her legs also began swelling, and at one point, her vision temporarily went white.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Keep the legs bent in a half boat pose instead of straight, which can reduce core strain and effort.
    — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of legs
Verb
  • Griffin diligently washes his hands after his dogs lick them, especially before picking up a slice of pizza.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Rain often washes those chemicals and fertilizers into nearby rivers and streams.
    — Jayash Paudel, The Conversation, 29 July 2026
Definition of washes
Verb
  • Across the street, the Llano River splashes its way over limestone formations and into reed thickets.
    — Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
  • Harry Kane splashes his face with ice water during a hydration break for a FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match on July 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
    — Laura Schifter, Time, 17 July 2026
Definition of splashes
Verb
  • That lag — measured in months — eventually ripples into AI server buildout, consumer electronics, and automotive chips.
    — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • The feature, starring Birgit Minichmayr, Lotte Keiling, Tristan López, and Carla Hüttermann, follows a family on summer holiday that are struck by a tragedy that ripples through their lives and relationships.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Definition of ripples
Verb
  • Its range overlaps extensively with populated and agricultural regions across the country’s eastern and central areas.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The dogs have since become central to helping bears and people coexist in places like Lake Tahoe, where development increasingly overlaps with bear habitats.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of overlaps
Verb
  • Upgrade your desktop setup with LG's 27-inch UltraGear monitor, featuring an immersive 1,000R curved QHD display that wraps around your field of view.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The fragrance wraps Turkish rose—a honeyed, full-bodied bloom—in earthy notes of patchouli, sandalwood, and frankincense, while blackcurrant and raspberry add a touch of zest.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of wraps
Verb
  • Inside, indirect light bathes the alder-wood paneling in warmth and tranquility.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
  • This mode activates extra horsepower, up to 94 bhp (70 kW), adds fake exhaust noise and bathes the interior in purple light.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of bathes
Verb
  • Otherwise, plan to clean the bottom of the oven anytime a dish bubbles over.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
  • So, which one bubbles to the top of the list?
    — Jenny Berg, Glamour, 25 June 2026
Definition of bubbles

Browse Nearby Words

lapping (up)
laps
lapse
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Cite this Entry

“Laps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laps. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of laps for Spanish Speakers

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