rapping 1 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of rap
1
as in banging
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in drumming
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

rapping

2 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of rap
as in chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball

Synonyms & Similar Words

rapping

3 of 3

verb (3)

present participle of rap
1
as in transporting
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 rapping
Verb
Newer listeners to Wolf’s alt-rock sound might be surprised to hear that in these early years, Wolf was singing, and occasionally rapping, over Billie Eilish-era bedroom pop. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Richard’s singing and rapping weave between the relentless drums like a shuttle through a loom, accented by cool sax notes and vocal loops from the original, which was co-written by Richard’s father. — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026 His voice moves between rapping and singing, carrying the woozy feel of Houston rap into songs built for much bigger rooms. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026 The group then commenced writing lyrics for their song, alternating between singing and rapping adorably. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026 The controversial video, in which members of the K-pop supergroup are heard using the racial slur while rapping as teens, is discussed in the new documentary Always Lalisa. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 Smiling, nodding her head, dancing on her own, rapping along to her own song. — Jason Sheeler, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026 The case began on June 17, when City of Miami Police officers watched a video of Lesteiro-Diaz rapping in Spanish while holding a laptop with money on it and wearing a call-center headset. — Ana Maria Soler, Miami Herald, 26 July 2026 She was born five years after the record came out and was rapping along with Hov and the rest of the stadium. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapping
  1. banging
  2. drumming
  3. chatting
  4. transporting
  5. grabbing
  6. knocking
  7. tapping
  8. talking
Verb
  • It was recast by two local foundry workers, John Pass and John Stow, not once but twice, because the first recast produced a sound that one bystander likened to coal scuttles banging together.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026
  • And then — more oysters, higher this time, cruel, pleasant things cutting at my hips, banging my thighs.
    — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • That led to drumming on pots and pans, and, years later, a punky band, a 2010 release (The Hippy Hop EP) then a 2015 debut album, Look Up.
    — Katherine Turman, SPIN, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Cocoon sessions found Morphine playing with different instrumentation, including piano and drumming from friends and collaborators.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of drumming
Verb
  • Times columnists Gustavo Arellano, Steve Lopez and Lorraine Ali are chatting about Tuesday night’s Los Angeles mayoral debate between Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The challenge will include multiple phases, including a concept design, concept refinement after chatting with reviewers, and then a final selection.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of chatting
Verb
  • Typically custom-designed using specialized steel, some are so massive that transporting them can require moving power lines.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • However, carrying mission equipment presents different engineering challenges than transporting conventional cargo.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of transporting
Verb
  • Friday’s exhibition contest featured a 22-0 KU run in the first half, the Jayhawks responding to Pitt State grabbing an early 22-21 lead.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Keeping the shoes simple with a more eye-grabbing dress has been her outfit formula as of late.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • The other student strikes one more blow from behind, knocking Xavier to the ground.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The murder prompted an extensive investigation, with police interviewing more than 1,300 people and knocking on hundreds of doors.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • Companies are also tapping the public debt markets in an unprecedented way.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But programming matters just as much as timing, and that includes tapping the right host.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of tapping
Verb
  • That level of pure confidence while talking to the person with cold, hard footage is what makes Lisa Barlow the perfect Real Housewife.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There are so many more interesting things than listening to a bunch of Flock employees talking on a wireless microphone with radio.
    — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of talking

Browse Nearby Words

rapped
rapping
rapport
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Cite this Entry

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

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