1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp rebuke or criticism
b
: a negative and often undeserved reputation or charge
—often used with bum or bad
given a bum rap by the press
3
a
: the responsibility for or adverse consequences of an action
refused to take the rap
b
: a criminal charge
c
: a prison sentence
rapped; rapping; raps
1
: to strike with a sharp blow
2
: to utter suddenly and forcibly
3
: to cause to be or come by raps
rap the meeting to order
4
: to criticize sharply
rapped also rapt
ˈrapt 
; rapping; raps
; rapping; raps
: a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
doesn't care a rap
1
: talk, conversation
also
: a line of talk : patter
2
a
or rap music
: a type of music of African American origin in which rhythmic and usually rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment
enjoys listening to rap
—often used before another nounrap music
a rap album/artist/song
b
: a rap song
… the group mixes its usual raunch with mock news reports and anti-censorship raps …—
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles
rapped; rapping; raps
1
intransitive
: to talk freely and frankly
… at a party rapping with a guy about music you love …—Lisa Lombardi
Lisa Lombardi2
transitive + intransitive
: to perform rap music
Does it feel strange to rap solo after being part of a big group like Harlem Spartans?—Kyann-Sian Williams
Kyann-Sian WilliamsShe [Cardi B] encouraged the crowd while her husband [Offset] rapped his verse before she returned the favour and finished the song.—Jonathan Landrum Jr.
Jonathan Landrum Jr.Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Verb (2)
Noun (2)
- beans
- bubkes
- bupkes
- bupkus
- continental
- damn
- darn
- durn
- diddly [slang]
- diddly-squat [slang]
- doodley-squat
- doodly-squat
- fig
- ghost
- hoot
- iota
- jot
- lick
- modicum
- squat [slang]
- syllable
- tittle
- whit
- whoop
Noun (3)
- backchat
- cackle
- causerie
- chat
- chatter
- chin music
- chin-wag [slang]
- chitchat
- confab
- confabulation
- gab
- gabfest
- gossip
- jangle
- jaw
- natter [chiefly British]
- palaver
- patter
- schmooze
- small talk
- table talk
- talk
- tête-à-tête
Verb (3)
Examples of rap in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap
the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes
would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend
Verb (1)
a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store
the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant
Verb (2)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
Noun (2)
I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket
Noun (3)
after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park
Verb (3)
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
Recent Examples on the WebDavid Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 May 2024
My type of beef rap is like slugs on your daughter or whatever the case may be.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
And so the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has become not only one of the most brilliant — and most vicious — battles in the history of rap.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 May 2024
Hopefully that ends all talk about what 21 thinks about rap’s civil war.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 13 May 2024
The show commenced with Angie Martinez introducing the mothers of rap stars Jim Jones, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Jadakiss and the late Pop Smoke.
—Shaheem Reid, Variety, 12 May 2024
And what’s a good beef without a rap release to commemorate it?
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
The rap battle started with each emcee going after each other's skills, careers, alleged ghostwriters, typical rap battle stuff.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 9 May 2024
At least two of the sketches were repeats of ones from previous episodes, including a Young Spicy sketch about voice-over artists recording inappropriate rap song intros, and the return of phone number jingle artists Soul Booth at the end of the show.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 May 2024
The project follows her 2022 breakout, Remember Your North Star—and, crucially, the death of her father, musician Ayub Bey, who rapped under the name Grand Daddy I.U. as part of the ‘80s collective Juice Crew.
—Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 10 May 2024
But O’Neal is no stranger to taking shots at others while rapping.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
Drake has dominated in his career with both rapping and singing supreme bars and melodies.
—Shaheem Reid, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 May 2024
The 28-year-old K-Pop powerhouse soloist and girl group member is known for her fashion sense along with her rapping and singing ability.
—Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024
Young Thug achieved tremendous success after starting to rap as a teenager and serves as CEO of his own record label, Young Stoner Life, or YSL.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024
Imitating the attempts to draw a response from someone inside, prosecutor Smith rapped his knuckles on the jury box wall during his opening statement.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
The disses weren’t even that personal and he’s rapped too many slick lines about being the best for too many years.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
Noun
The soundtrack is a synth-heavy melange that can be ambient or anthemic, intimate in its excavation of inner feelings or defiantly declarative, at times leaning into rap.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 May 2024
My type of beef rap is like slugs on your daughter or whatever the case may be.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
And so the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has become not only one of the most brilliant — and most vicious — battles in the history of rap.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 May 2024
Hopefully that ends all talk about what 21 thinks about rap’s civil war.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 13 May 2024
The show commenced with Angie Martinez introducing the mothers of rap stars Jim Jones, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Jadakiss and the late Pop Smoke.
—Shaheem Reid, Variety, 12 May 2024
And what’s a good beef without a rap release to commemorate it?
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
The rap battle started with each emcee going after each other's skills, careers, alleged ghostwriters, typical rap battle stuff.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 9 May 2024
At least two of the sketches were repeats of ones from previous episodes, including a Young Spicy sketch about voice-over artists recording inappropriate rap song intros, and the return of phone number jingle artists Soul Booth at the end of the show.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
Verb
Last month, Saweetie posted a preview of the song on Insta, rapping a bit of the sing-songy chorus while strutting near a swimming pool and toting a tiny purse.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 May 2024
The project follows her 2022 breakout, Remember Your North Star—and, crucially, the death of her father, musician Ayub Bey, who rapped under the name Grand Daddy I.U. as part of the ‘80s collective Juice Crew.
—Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 10 May 2024
But O’Neal is no stranger to taking shots at others while rapping.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
Drake has dominated in his career with both rapping and singing supreme bars and melodies.
—Shaheem Reid, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 May 2024
The 28-year-old K-Pop powerhouse soloist and girl group member is known for her fashion sense along with her rapping and singing ability.
—Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024
Young Thug achieved tremendous success after starting to rap as a teenager and serves as CEO of his own record label, Young Stoner Life, or YSL.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024
Imitating the attempts to draw a response from someone inside, prosecutor Smith rapped his knuckles on the jury box wall during his opening statement.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
The disses weren’t even that personal and he’s rapped too many slick lines about being the best for too many years.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rap. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rap
1 of 5 noun1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp criticism
b
: a bad reputation that is often not deserved
given a bad rap
3
a
: the blame for or unfavorable consequences of an action
took the rap
b
: a criminal charge
a murder rap
rap
2 of 5 verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to give a quick sharp blow : knock
2
: to utter suddenly with force
rap
3 of 5 noun
: the least bit
doesn't care a rap
rap
4 of 5 verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to talk freely and frankly
2
: to perform rap
rap
5 of 5 noun1
: an informal talk : chat, conversation
also
: a line of talk : patter
2
a
: a rhythmic chanting often in unison of usually rhymed couplets to a musical accompaniment
b
: a musical piece so performed
Etymology
Noun
Middle English rappe "a hard blow"
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