nap 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of napnext
as in wink
a short sleep so tired that she needed to take a refreshing nap before soccer practice

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nap

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in fur
a soft airy substance or covering high-quality suede has a good, even nap

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nap

3 of 3

verb

ˈnap How to pronounce nap (audio)
1
as in to relax
to sleep lightly or briefly decided to let the kids nap for a few more minutes before waking them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to sleep
to be in a state of sleep I'm just going to nap the entire afternoon

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nap
Noun
By sitting in a river, eating as much salmon as physically possible and eventually disappearing for a long winter nap. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 This human-sized dog bed creates a cozy spot for afternoon naps, movie marathons, or curling up with a book, with plenty of room for your furry sidekick — or sidekicks — to stretch out next to you. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
One of the most popular areas is the Newport Historic Bayfront, home to the infamous sea lions of Port Dock One—they’re loud, funny, and always trying to find their next place to nap. — Sierra Vandervort, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2026 Andrew was napping on a couch in the family home when he was struck up to 11 times with a hatchet. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nap
  1. wink
  2. fur
  3. relax
  4. sleep
  5. rest
  6. pile
  7. slumber
  8. doze
Noun
  • Part of what Myha’la’s wink signifies is how much Celebrity Traitors UK is about, well, being a celebrity.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
  • From New York’s insistence that low ponies and naked nails are, indeed, chic, to Milan’s cheeky winks of morning-after makeup and good-bad-hair days, designers and artists made room to play.
    — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of wink
Noun
  • And February’s annual Festival du Voyageur is one of Canada’s largest winter festivals, featuring huge snow sculptures, music, and cultural interpreters who bring the fur-trade era to life.
    — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond accessories, Chiuri is exploring how Fendi’s expertise in leather and fur can translate into new materials and techniques.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of fur
Verb
  • Potassium helps blood vessels relax, improving blood flow and helping lower blood pressure.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2026
  • So after that, the Iranian government withdrew the morality police from the streets and relaxed the dress code.
    — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of relax
Verb
  • The cars need to charge for about fifty minutes every six to eight hours—a cycle under way twenty-four hours a day, because a Waymo does not sleep at night.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In the premium version of the app, Health Guardian also monitors blood pressure, insulin resistance, and sleeping trends.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • Creating space for downtime, rest and connection really is a gift to guests coming to visit for any length of time.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • These ripples are associated with spikes of activity in the prefrontal cortex, and scientists only observe them during periods of sleep or quiet, wakeful rest.
    — Sean Mccabe, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • CoreWeave’s vast debt pile has been the subject of controversy in the past.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Relocate Leaf Litter and Wood Piles Leaf litter, wood piles, and other yard debris offer shelter not only to pests but also to beneficial insects and wildlife.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of pile
Verb
  • In particular, the image of the sickly, slumbering child recurs throughout Marcon’s work.
    — Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The winter months pass, long nights, a bomb cyclone that buries my basement windows in snow and leaves me to lurk in the dark like a slumbering bear, and then spring arrives abrupt and clanging and golden.
    — Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of slumber
Noun
  • Visitors can also follow a small leafy trail to Kelayang Cave, where hanging bats doze after a night of feasting.
    — Claire Turrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Available in pink or blue, the toy—which attaches to crib bars or can be situated near your child’s sleeping space—features a relaxing array of sounds, lights, and music, along with gentle motion, to encourage your darling to doze.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 1 July 2026
Definition of doze

Browse Nearby Words

nanoseconds
nap
napkin
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Cite this Entry

“Nap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nap. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nap

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nap

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