as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
tapped her foot in time to the music kept tapping the desk with his pencil
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to drain
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
the oil company tapped that first well completely dry
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 tap
Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 3 July 2025
Agents also tapped into a new investigative tool called digital vehicle forensics.
—Paul Larosa, CBS News, 3 July 2025
Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
Indra felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around.
—Literary Hub, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tap
Verb
But those documents sang a very different tune than DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency has over $600 million dollars available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Florida to tap for reimbursement.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 3 July 2025
Agents also tapped into a new investigative tool called digital vehicle forensics.
—Paul Larosa, CBS News, 3 July 2025
Noun
The program provides pouches that students use to store their phones during the school day, which unlock with a magnetic tap.
—Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
Indra felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around.
—Literary Hub, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tap
valve
Noun
-
Several of the properties nearest to the intersection were without water between about 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday as workers closed water valves to repair the break.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
-
Using a series of pumps and valves, the pump station helps transport water in a pipe over the hill and to a wastewater facility.—
Bebe Hodges,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tap. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share