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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

nap

2 of 3

noun (2)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 nap
Noun
Among people with poor nighttime sleep, long naps were associated with a 40 percent higher risk. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 15 June 2026 Smart baby products can provide a hand, including by extending nap time with soothing noises and movement. — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 July 2026
Verb
By then, however, Jaxon was napping at the daycare center across town before an Easter egg hunt planned that afternoon. — Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 21 June 2026 He was spotted napping and playing with traffic cones near Tasmania's capital, Hobart. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 1 July 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
  • Prime Day is a prime opportunity to refresh your travel wardrobe (wink, wink), and these ultra-stylish Anrabess palazzo pants deserve a spot in your suitcase this summer.
    — Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2026
  • In the premium tier are Royal Caribbean and the adults-only Virgin Voyages, which coaxes guests to party with a wink and a nod, hosting onboard events like the welcome Pajama Party and the popular, immersive Scarlet Night at least once per voyage.
    — Scott Laird, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of wink
Noun
  • Gendron said his ancestors were among the first outsiders to settle the island in the 1700s, when three brothers, fur traders all, left Canada and followed the Mississippi south.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Cat fur comes in a wide array of shades, lengths and designs.
    — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of fur
Verb
  • From adults-only pools to tranquil spas, these luxury resorts offer relaxing escapes tailored to travelers over 50.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Cable and telecom lobby groups submitted comments supporting the FCC plan to eliminate or relax various requirements.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Definition of relax
Verb
  • The engineer flew in from Tampa to try and find her mother, sister, brother-in-law and nephew in the ruins of their nine-story apartment building, sleeping on the ground since arriving two nights ago.
    — Isa Soares, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • One couple slept on the grass with umbrellas over their heads and just two thin blankets for cover on what turned out to be a cooler night than expected following a London heatwave where temperatures soared to 95 degrees.
    — Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • To minimize risks during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advises incorporating frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 4 July 2026
  • Increasingly, however, many are embracing a different definition—one that includes rest, healing, preventative care, joy, and self-investment.
    — Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • Baby Boomers, meanwhile, are armed with piles of cash and plenty of time, giving them more flexibility for travel.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • As her daughter sweeps away the last piles of sand, 54-year-old Nuru Mohammed directs women hanging fishing nets to serve as décor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of pile
Verb
  • Some, perhaps, slumbered through repetitive regional games and inconsequential friendlies.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 14 June 2026
  • But the nannies had to get up in the night at the sound of my shrieks while my parents slumbered with ear-plugs in.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of slumber
Noun
  • 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
  • Our thought was probably somebody was going to just want to come in and doze it all down and do something different.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of doze

Browse Nearby Words

nanoseconds
nap
napkin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on nap

Nglish: Translation of nap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nap

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All