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
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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
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as in chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
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1
as in transporting
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rapping
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
Craig experienced both highs (multiple Star Quality challenge wins) and lows (twice ending up in the bottom two, including after his rapping talent show performance).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
Lil Timmy Tim stems from a viral video from 2012 that shows the actor rapping at an event at his alma mater, New York's LaGuardia High School.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
And so this is the first time … rapping in our regalia.
—Jack Cooksey, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Collaborators encouraged her to also ditch the jazz singing and try rapping and pop vocals.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
What was that like having three of the dopest female emcees at the time rapping on your beat?
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 22 Oct. 2025
In the viral video, Breyer is rapping by The Game featuring 50 Cent.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Just hours after the app’s launch on Tuesday, memes created using its AI video-generation technology were already spreading to other social networks—including, for example, a video of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman rapping from the inside of a toilet bowl.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
The buoyant track sees Robyn rapping about having one-night stands while 10 weeks pregnant via IVF.
—Cite this Entry
“Rapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapping. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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