slapped; slapping
1
a
: to strike sharply with or as if with the open hand
b
: to cause to strike with a motion or sound like that of a blow with the open hand
2
: to put, place, or throw with careless haste or force
slapped on a coat of paint
3
: to subject to a penalty
—usually used with with
slapped him with a $10 fine
4
: to assail verbally : insult
1
a
: a blow with the open hand
b
: a quick sharp blow
2
: a noise like that of a slap
see also:
Examples of slap in a Sentence
Verb
She slapped him across the face.
He slapped me on the back and said “Good job!”.
He called the dog by slapping his hand against his thigh.
Waves were slapping against the side of the boat.
Gentle waves slapped the side of the raft.
doctors used to give newborns a light slap to get them to start breathing
that comment is a slap to anyone who has ever served in the military
Adverb
I walked slap into the post.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyla Guilfoil,
NBC news,
5 July 2026
Haaland’s winning goal came after another bout of yanking and pulling; the striker tried to free himself by slapping the defender’s arm away, eventually just carrying on regardless.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
5 July 2026
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 July 2026
DeTiger also discusses working with Caroline Polachek, Chromeo and Stargate, the viral videos that launched her career, the influence of Rush’s Geddy Lee and developing her signature slap bass style.
—
Spin Staff,
SPIN,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for slap
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.
Verb
There was briefly some concern earlier this year that Chestnut wouldn’t be able to participate in the 2026 competition after he was arrested for allegedly slapping a man in an Indiana bar.
—
Kyla Guilfoil,
NBC news,
5 July 2026
Haaland’s winning goal came after another bout of yanking and pulling; the striker tried to free himself by slapping the defender’s arm away, eventually just carrying on regardless.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
5 July 2026
Noun
John Oliver’s explosive three-episode arc on General Hospital started with a bang, and is going out with a slap.
—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 July 2026
DeTiger also discusses working with Caroline Polachek, Chromeo and Stargate, the viral videos that launched her career, the influence of Rush’s Geddy Lee and developing her signature slap bass style.
—
Spin Staff,
SPIN,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for slap
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Cite this Entry
“Slap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slap
1 of 3 noun1
: a quick sharp blow especially with the open hand
2
: a noise like that of a slap
slap
2 of 3 verb
slapped; slapping
1
a
: to strike with or as if with the open hand
b
: to make a sound like that of slapping
2
: to put, place, or throw with careless haste or force
slapped the book down on the desk
slap
3 of 3 adverbLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
