1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp rebuke or criticism
b
: a negative and often undeserved reputation or charge
—often used with bum or bad
given a bum rap by the press
3
a
: the responsibility for or adverse consequences of an action
refused to take the rap
b
: a criminal charge
c
: a prison sentence
rapped; rapping; raps
1
: to strike with a sharp blow
2
: to utter suddenly and forcibly
3
: to cause to be or come by raps
rap the meeting to order
4
: to criticize sharply
rapped also rapt
ˈrapt 
; rapping; raps
; rapping; raps
: a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
doesn't care a rap
1
: talk, conversation
also
: a line of talk : patter
2
a
or rap music
: a type of music of African American origin in which rhythmic and usually rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment
enjoys listening to rap
—often used before another nounrap music
a rap album/artist/song
b
: a rap song
… the group mixes its usual raunch with mock news reports and anti-censorship raps …—
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles
rapped; rapping; raps
1
intransitive
: to talk freely and frankly
… at a party rapping with a guy about music you love …—Lisa Lombardi
Lisa Lombardi2
transitive + intransitive
: to perform rap music
Does it feel strange to rap solo after being part of a big group like Harlem Spartans?—Kyann-Sian Williams
Kyann-Sian WilliamsShe [Cardi B] encouraged the crowd while her husband [Offset] rapped his verse before she returned the favour and finished the song.—Jonathan Landrum Jr.
Jonathan Landrum Jr.Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Verb (2)
Noun (2)
- beans
- bubkes
- bupkes
- bupkus
- continental
- damn
- darn
- durn
- diddly [slang]
- diddly-squat [slang]
- doodley-squat
- doodly-squat
- fig
- ghost
- hoot
- iota
- jot
- lick
- modicum
- squat [slang]
- syllable
- tittle
- whit
- whoop
Noun (3)
- backchat
- cackle
- causerie
- chat
- chatter
- chin music
- chin-wag [slang]
- chitchat
- confab
- confabulation
- gab
- gabfest
- gossip
- jangle
- jaw
- natter [chiefly British]
- palaver
- patter
- schmooze
- small talk
- table talk
- talk
- tête-à-tête
Verb (3)
Examples of rap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebAl Shipley, SPIN, 22 Apr. 2024
In a separate event at the Troxy the same night, producer and UK rap and grime MC CASISDEAD will curate an exclusive Pitchfork London bill, performing live with an array of special guests.
—Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2024
Ye posted a picture of himself in the studio with Metro Boomin suggesting a new alliance in the ongoing battle between a generation’s worth of rap greats.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
In 2016, then-President Barack Obama weighed in on an issue of utmost national importance: Who would win in a rap battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake?
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Hip hop/rap also grew its share of the vinyl market to 5.3% in 2023, led by a re-issue of De La Soul’s 1989 debut, 3 Feet High and Rising, although rock comfortably remained the biggest genre among vinyl fans with a dominant 55% share of the market.
—Richard Smirke, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
An Arkansas man accused of putting threatening lyrics in his rap music has pleaded not guilty, stating that the violence is part of his persona as a musician, authorities said.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
By now, Nicki Minaj was one of the most famous musicians on Earth, and most of the major rap capitals seemed to be producing their own female rap stars.
—Liz Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Longtime New York radio personality DJ Mister Cee, who became a staple in hip-hop by working with rap greats like Big Daddy Kane and The Notorious B.I.G, has died, according to former workplace, HOT 97.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
In the song, Beyoncé raps alongside Shaboozey, a country hip hop artist, in a frenzied, genre-bending track that challenges: Could this be country, too?
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Researchers attributed this trend to rap songs’ tendency to repeat lines and rhymes.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
The idea that rapping this stylized could be used as anything other than proof of Young Thug’s musical ingenuity is a total farce.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
In fact, neither artist rapped, sang or spoke during the performance, which took place during the annual hip-hop festival’s opening night.
—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024
In the song, Bey proceeds to lean into rapping as much as singing.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
In less than two years, Daniels’ often-cringe, always-funny, sometimes-annoying videos singing to, rapping for, and dancing off with the likes of DJ Khaled, Kendall Jenner, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, and Charli XCX have built Daniels a following of nearly 1 million on TikTok alone.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024
Awesome Tapes From Africa at Showtime Since 2006, Awesome Tapes From Africa has been a rewarding way to discover and immerse yourself in sounds from across the African continent, whether griots from Mali, rap from Niger or traditional songs from Sudan.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Hall has never welcomed more than one hip-hop artist in a year, with Tribe winning over this year’s other rap nominees, Eric B. & Rakim.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Apr. 2024
In a separate event at the Troxy the same night, producer and UK rap and grime MC CASISDEAD will curate an exclusive Pitchfork London bill, performing live with an array of special guests.
—Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2024
Ye posted a picture of himself in the studio with Metro Boomin suggesting a new alliance in the ongoing battle between a generation’s worth of rap greats.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
In 2016, then-President Barack Obama weighed in on an issue of utmost national importance: Who would win in a rap battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake?
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Hip hop/rap also grew its share of the vinyl market to 5.3% in 2023, led by a re-issue of De La Soul’s 1989 debut, 3 Feet High and Rising, although rock comfortably remained the biggest genre among vinyl fans with a dominant 55% share of the market.
—Richard Smirke, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
An Arkansas man accused of putting threatening lyrics in his rap music has pleaded not guilty, stating that the violence is part of his persona as a musician, authorities said.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
By now, Nicki Minaj was one of the most famous musicians on Earth, and most of the major rap capitals seemed to be producing their own female rap stars.
—Liz Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Longtime New York radio personality DJ Mister Cee, who became a staple in hip-hop by working with rap greats like Big Daddy Kane and The Notorious B.I.G, has died, according to former workplace, HOT 97.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
Conflict is certainly in the genre’s DNA; ever since the advent of battle rapping in the early 1980s, hip-hop’s titans have forged their reputation in the heat of lyrical warfare.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
In the song, Beyoncé raps alongside Shaboozey, a country hip hop artist, in a frenzied, genre-bending track that challenges: Could this be country, too?
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Researchers attributed this trend to rap songs’ tendency to repeat lines and rhymes.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
The idea that rapping this stylized could be used as anything other than proof of Young Thug’s musical ingenuity is a total farce.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
In fact, neither artist rapped, sang or spoke during the performance, which took place during the annual hip-hop festival’s opening night.
—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024
In the song, Bey proceeds to lean into rapping as much as singing.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
In less than two years, Daniels’ often-cringe, always-funny, sometimes-annoying videos singing to, rapping for, and dancing off with the likes of DJ Khaled, Kendall Jenner, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, and Charli XCX have built Daniels a following of nearly 1 million on TikTok alone.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024
Awesome Tapes From Africa at Showtime Since 2006, Awesome Tapes From Africa has been a rewarding way to discover and immerse yourself in sounds from across the African continent, whether griots from Mali, rap from Niger or traditional songs from Sudan.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rap. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rap
1 of 5 noun1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp criticism
b
: a bad reputation that is often not deserved
given a bad rap
3
a
: the blame for or unfavorable consequences of an action
took the rap
b
: a criminal charge
a murder rap
rap
2 of 5 verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to give a quick sharp blow : knock
2
: to utter suddenly with force
rap
3 of 5 noun
: the least bit
doesn't care a rap
rap
4 of 5 verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to talk freely and frankly
2
: to perform rap
rap
5 of 5 noun1
: an informal talk : chat, conversation
also
: a line of talk : patter
2
a
: a rhythmic chanting often in unison of usually rhymed couplets to a musical accompaniment
b
: a musical piece so performed
Etymology
Noun
Middle English rappe "a hard blow"
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