1
a
: the fluid part of a plant
specifically
: a watery solution that circulates through a plant's vascular system
b(1)
: a body fluid (such as blood) essential to life, health, or vigor
(2)
: bodily health and vigor
2
: a foolish gullible person
sapped; sapping
sapped; sapping
: to proceed by digging a sap
1
: to subvert by digging or eroding the substratum or foundation : undermine
2
a
: to gradually diminish the supply or intensity of
sapped her strength
b
: to weaken or exhaust the energy or vitality of
the illness sapped him of his stamina
3
: to operate against or pierce by a sap
: the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications
Examples of sap in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a child full of sap and vivacity
some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam
the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline
I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years
Verb (1)
weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
Now this image is floating around in the mind of the poor sap who planned to hunt this deer feeder.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
Gold slid below $4,000 an ounce, extending losses from the worst rout in over a decade as progress on a US-China trade deal sapped haven demand.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sap
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Noun
Sticky sap stretched between my fingers like an elastic band.
—Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
Now this image is floating around in the mind of the poor sap who planned to hunt this deer feeder.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Many introverts push through exhaustion, continuing to socialize while feeling sapped.
—Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
Gold slid below $4,000 an ounce, extending losses from the worst rout in over a decade as progress on a US-China trade deal sapped haven demand.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sap
Cite this Entry
“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sap. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sap
1 of 2 noun1
: the fluid part of a plant
especially
: a watery solution that circulates through a higher plant and carries food and nutrients
2
: bodily health and vigor : vitality sense 3b
3
: a foolish person who is easily tricked or cheated
sap
2 of 2 verb
sapped; sapping
1
: undermine sense 2
heavy waves sapped the seawall
2
: to weaken gradually
illness sapped my strength
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