Synonyms of tapping

tapping 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of tap

as in drumming

to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically

tapped her foot in time to the music

kept tapping the desk with his pencil

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drumming
• banging
• pounding
• patting
• hitting
• clapping
• rapping
• knocking
• beating
• clicking
• slamming
• smacking
• thumping
• batting
• hammering
• whacking
• flicking
• bopping
• thudding
• swatting
• socking
• clattering
• pinging
• bashing
• clinking
• pasting
• thwacking
• striking
• walloping
• tipping
• bonking
• chinking
• chucking
• pitter-pattering
• pit-a-patting

tapping

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of tap

as in draining

to remove (liquid) gradually or completely

the oil company tapped that first well completely dry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• draining
• pumping
• sucking
• emptying
• siphoning
• bleeding
• drawing (off)
• syphoning
• drafting
• evacuating
• cleaning
• flushing
• milking
• clearing
• purging
• vacating
• depleting
• exhausting
• voiding
• decanting
• vacuating
• effusing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• filling
• washing
• wetting
• soaking
• watering
• bathing
• drenching
• flooding
• dousing
• drowning
• overflowing
• inundating
• dowsing
• submerging
• sousing
• swamping
• deluging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tapping

Verb

One is that tapping undersea aquifers could draw water away from onshore reserves. —Rodrique Ngowi, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025

Ronny sat in the car, tapping at his phone as Cali waved goodbye. —Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025

Richards replied, before tapping Sheen on the shoulder. —Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025

While clean deodorant has become one of the most popular products in body care with a slew of heritage brands tapping in, Covello said the brand received a lot of pushback in the early days. —Emily Burns, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025