nap 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of napnext
as in wink
a short sleep so tired that she needed to take a refreshing nap before soccer practice

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nap

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in fur
a soft airy substance or covering high-quality suede has a good, even nap

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nap

3 of 3

verb

ˈnap How to pronounce nap (audio)
1
as in to relax
to sleep lightly or briefly decided to let the kids nap for a few more minutes before waking them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to sleep
to be in a state of sleep I'm just going to nap the entire afternoon

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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 nap
Noun
In the early months, they’re used to swaddle newborns (often with a silent prayer for a nap that’s longer than 20 minutes). — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026 Sperm whales take their naps by first diving down a bit before the buoyant head turns toward the surface; by sinking tail-first to a depth of roughly 8 meters; or by slowly ascending to the surface after a deep dive (over 200 meters). — ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
There was nothing comfier, or more quintessentially childhood-coded, than wrapping myself in a patchwork throw and napping the entire five-and-a-half-hour drive to the family vacation home in Vermont. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026 Primates napping next to another animal or playing with them offers no readily apparent rewards—suggesting that this innate curiosity and friendliness is more deeply ingrained in humanity’s evolutionary journey. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nap
  1. wink
  2. fur
  3. relax
  4. sleep
  5. rest
  6. pile
  7. slumber
  8. doze
Noun
  • While the title and baseball team setting are clearly a wink to Bad News Bears, the book is an original idea in a different genre that has no connection to the classic sports movie.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Foregrounding the audience’s lived reality before its fictional love story can even begin, that meta wink feels unmistakably like Gluck’s work.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of wink
Noun
  • For her full ensemble, the God Is a Bullet star wore a plunging red evening gown with faux fur sleeves and strappy nude heels.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Their big paws may have bits of fur growing between their toes, and their tails are long and bushy.
    — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of fur
Verb
  • This not only improves blow flow in one particular region but also relaxes and widens blood vessels throughout the body, Kloner says.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Their homes were not like the large estates found in wealthier Colorado mountain towns, but smaller structures where their blue-collar families went to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
    — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of relax
Verb
  • Los Angeles City Council members on Tuesday approved a resolution to remove 12 anti-camping zones around Hollywood, ending a years-long ban that prevented people from sitting, sleeping or camping in certain areas.
    — Brittney Ermon, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Thousands of people across the island slept outdoors, fearing aftershocks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • The Moon enters Sagittarius and your 4th House of Home, Family, and Emotional Roots, pulling your focus toward rest, privacy, space, or household needs.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Both received MRIs that showed no structural damage — just inflammation — and have been prescribed rest.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • Other factors, including enormous public debt piles, are also contributing to elevated yields.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Video from the scene showed a pile of shoes on the sidewalk near the water and sand.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of pile
Verb
  • In other words, the long-slumbering giant in the US space industry may finally be waking up.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Some, perhaps, slumbered through repetitive regional games and inconsequential friendlies.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Definition of slumber
Noun
  • Available in pink or blue, the toy—which attaches to crib bars or can be situated near your child’s sleeping space—features a relaxing array of sounds, lights, and music, along with gentle motion, to encourage your darling to doze.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 1 July 2026
  • Our thought was probably somebody was going to just want to come in and doze it all down and do something different.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of doze

Browse Nearby Words

nanoseconds
nap
napkin
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Cite this Entry

“Nap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nap. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nap

Nglish: Translation of nap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nap

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