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 hit
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rap
Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026
The eighth overall pick in this year's WNBA draft, 22-year-old Flau'jae has been about business since birth, according to Kia, 43, who manages her daughter's basketball and rap career.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Luis Rincon, 30, who raps under the stage name Weez Gotti, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Noun
Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy is believed to have been an innocent bystander attending a rap concert in his home state when he was struck by gunfire, Laurel, Mississippi police told The Star.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026
The eighth overall pick in this year's WNBA draft, 22-year-old Flau'jae has been about business since birth, according to Kia, 43, who manages her daughter's basketball and rap career.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
Verb
Marcus Stokes initially committed to Florida but never got to UF after a video surfaced of him rapping along to song lyrics that included a racial slur.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Luis Rincon, 30, who raps under the stage name Weez Gotti, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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