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
Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
Riders can choose songs from various genres, including classic rock, pop and rap.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Char Adams, NBC News, 27 Dec. 2024
In terms of lyricism, 21 Savage ranks himself as the top wordsmith currently rapping out of Atlanta.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rap 
Noun
There were five genres – disco, rap, country, electronica, classic rock – featuring six tunes in each category.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
Riders can choose songs from various genres, including classic rock, pop and rap.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
Her ascent to rap prominence followed years of consistency and trial and error.
—Char Adams, NBC News, 27 Dec. 2024
In terms of lyricism, 21 Savage ranks himself as the top wordsmith currently rapping out of Atlanta.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Dec. 2024
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 17 Jan. 2025.
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