zap

1 of 3

interjection

ˈzap 

1

—used to express a sound made by or as if by a gun

2

—used to indicate a sudden or instantaneous occurrence

zap

2 of 3

verb

zapped; zapping; zaps

transitive verb

1

a

: to get rid of, destroy, or kill especially with or as if with sudden force

b

: to hit with or as if with a sudden concentrated application of force or energy

c

: to irradiate especially with microwaves

2

a

: to propel suddenly or speedily

b

: to transport instantaneously

3

: to avoid watching (something, such as a television commercial) by changing channels especially with a remote control or by fast-forwarding

intransitive verb

1

: to move with speed or force

2

: to change television channels using a remote control

zap

3 of 3

noun

: a pungent or zestful quality : zip

also : a sudden forceful blow

Synonyms

Verb

• bang
• bash
• bat
• belt
• biff
• bludgeon
• bob
• bonk
• bop
• box
• bust
• clap
• clip
• clobber
• clock
• clout
• crack
• hammer
• hit
• knock
• nail
• paste
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slog
• slug
• smack
• smite
• sock
• strike
• swat
• swipe
• tag
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• whack
• whale

Examples of zap in a Sentence

Verb

The flowers were zapped by the cold weather.

The aliens in the movie zapped people from spaceships.

She reheated her muffin by zapping it in the microwave for a few seconds.

I zapped through the channels for a while before falling asleep.

We tape the show so we can zap through the commercials.

Recent Examples on the Web

Interjection

Yeah, truly, like passing a ball around and zip zap zopping. —Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 9 Aug. 2023

Verb

That win came during a stretch when the Lakers had lost eight of 11 games, missed free throws, and tough shots from opposing teams and rough offensive nights had zapped their energy. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024

If the soil is dry, water plants so that frigid weather doesn't zap the foliage. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024

Noun

Fulton’s grooves are squirrelly as ever, a haywire riot of laser zaps and giggling güiros, ’60s funk and samba schools, bumblebee Moogs and tumbling congas. —Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024

An animal that steps on a bear mat receives a nasty zap. —Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Interjection

imitative

First Known Use

Interjection

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1942, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1963, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

zap

verb

ˈzap

zapped; zapping

1

: to destroy or kill by or as if by shooting

2

: to hit suddenly and forcefully