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
Similarly, which athlete had the worst attempt at rapping and which rapper had the most embarrassing attempt at athletics? — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 25 Aug. 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 The first cuts on Big Mama confirm Latto’s hard-rapping bona fides. — Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2026 At one point, Tech returned to old-school hip-hop fundamentals, beatboxing and using his chest as percussion while rapping, echoing lunchroom cypher traditions. — Kansas City Star, 25 May 2026 Bergstrom accepted the challenge and promptly beat the older male recruiter, rapping out 18 pull-ups while the recruiter could muster only 15. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 May 2026 North wore a long blue wig, black sunglasses and a black leather outfit, dancing around and rapping while on stage. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026 Numbers-wise, what Yandy Diaz did Thursday night, rapping his 1,000th career hit, may not seem that significant. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapping
  1. banging
  2. drumming
  3. chatting
  4. transporting
  5. grabbing
  6. knocking
  7. tapping
  8. talking
Verb
  • Fast-forward five centuries later to modern-day Seattle, and Liz is forever banging her head hearing her husband's persistent little cough.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Your plumber can also make sure pipes are well secured so the banging stops.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • The service As guests step foot on Jumeirah Olhahali Island, they are greeted with a joyous traditional Maldivian Boduberu dance accompanied by drumming and harmonious chants.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Welsh drummer who formerly performed with AC/DC, David Gilmour and more has decided to permanently take a step back from drumming.
    — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of drumming
Verb
  • In the video, the popular streamers Maya Higa and FaZe Adapt sit together on a log, chatting nonchalantly as a massive grizzly bear lumbers toward them.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Google’s video showcasing this option sees the user using Chrome on a phone, where chatting with a chatbot might be easier.
    — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of chatting
Verb
  • Three explosive-laden drones were found around the airport, one near a Ukrainian plane transporting munitions.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Since launching in May 2024, the dog-centric luxury airline has flown nearly 1 million miles, transporting 2,661 pets across 40 breeds via more than 360 flights.
    — Rebecca Norris, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of transporting
Verb
  • Two men bought tickets to enter Vienna's Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) before smashing a display case, grabbing a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace and walking away, police said Friday.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In the commercial, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark rushes over to his golf bag and pushes over golfer Alexis Miestowski to keep her from grabbing the Quantum Driver.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • While significantly smaller than Nvidia, Google or Apple, Broadcom shares are knocking on a $2 trillion valuation.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Prince was able to free the ATV and accelerated toward the deputy, striking him and knocking him to the ground.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • Meanwhile, newcomer Belle Frantz made her Opry debut by tapping Parton's love of gospel music.
    — Chris Parton, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This led to a segment on Newsmax in which anchor Carl Higbie deleted one Jelly Roll song from his phone on air, demonstrating the apparent righteous power of tapping a touch-screen button.
    — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of tapping
Verb
  • When families of the Lincoln’s sailors started talking with reporters, their complaints were met with contempt from the top.
    — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Taken with each other, Celine agrees to continue talking with Jesse in Vienna before his morning flight.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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