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
  • At first, there doesn’t seem to be much of a connection between the colorful, family-friendly world of Pokémon and the loud, head-banging techno genre.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Written by John Hughes, this tale about best pals Andie (Molly Ringwald) and Duckie (Jon Cryer) unfolds to a banging soundtrack and boasts a handful of scenes that remain generational signatures.
    — Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 24 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
  • Some people were chatting outside the church when something sounded like an engine backfiring.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • From there, wine flowed as attendees tucked into filet mignon and sea bass while chatting across large burgundy floral centerpieces.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of chatting
Verb
  • The aircraft was originally designed for tactical logistics, transporting supplies to military personnel and vessels rather than engaging aerial targets.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Peltola required medical attention after the accident, which happened when another vehicle crashed into the one transporting Peltola and her family, the campaign said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of transporting
Verb
  • Over recent years, ambitious and headline-grabbing solutions to transportation problems have been unveiled in South Florida, from vertical jet ports to autonomous vehicles.
    — Sofia Zarran, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Bailey kicked off the Lakers’ opening night by matching her powerful voice with an equally attention-grabbing shoe.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • Video shared by NorCal Resist showed Moreida standing in the street recording an approaching SUV when its front-right corner struck him, knocking him to the pavement.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Coral Springs Police said 44-year-old Matthew John Ryan rammed a shopping cart with a dog inside into the menorah at Chabad of Coral Springs on North University Drive, knocking it completely over.
    — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • The couple were sold, tapping Buck without interviewing anyone else.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
  • As a Canadian company, Abrupt has a track record in international co-productions, production financing and tapping tax incentives and other soft money subsidies to get its documentaries made.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of tapping
Verb
  • About half of the inmates are never identified by name onscreen and aren’t featured in talking-head interviews.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Moderna and Merck are talking with regulatory authorities about next steps for seeking approval of the vaccine.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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