ape
Americannoun
-
Anthropology, Zoology. any member of the superfamily Hominoidea, the two extant branches of which are the lesser apes (gibbons) and the great apes (humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans).
-
(loosely) any primate except humans.
-
an imitator; mimic.
-
Informal. a big, ugly, clumsy person.
-
Disparaging and Offensive. (used as a slur against a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, especially a Black person.)
verb (used with object)
adjective
noun
-
any of various primates, esp those of the family Pongidae , in which the tail is very short or absent See anthropoid ape See also great ape
-
(not in technical use) any monkey
-
an imitator; mimic
-
informal a coarse, clumsy, or rude person
verb
Sensitive Note
See simianization.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have apedperfect
-
has apedperfect 3rd person singular
-
is apingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been apingperfect progressive
-
am apingprogressive 1st person singular
-
are apingprogressive
-
has been apingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
apingparticiple
-
apessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had apedperfect
-
were apingprogressive plural
-
was apingprogressive singular
-
had been apingperfect progressive
-
apedsimple
-
apedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of ape
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English apa; cognate with Old Saxon apo, Old Norse api, Old High German affo ( German Affe ); further origin uncertain
Explanation
To ape someone is to imitate them, often in a mocking way. Most people don't like being aped. To ape is to imitate, but it can mean a few different things. One type of aping is to blatantly imitate something or someone in every way. That's considered a bad thing because it's so unoriginal — it's a rip-off. Another kind of aping is like a caricature — to ape in this way is a way of making fun or spoofing someone. Either way, you probably don't want to be accused of aping.
Vocabulary lists containing ape
A Vocabulary Bestiary: Animals That Behave as Verbs
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Amazing Animals, A-Z
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Amazing Animals, List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With a few more events in the works for this year, APE is already looking to expand the series next year.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2024
Over the years, APE has conducted surveys to measure the economic impact of their events.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2024
Following the System of a Down show this weekend, APE plans to announce two more free concerts before the end of the year with more on the way in 2025.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2024
The preferred stock units called "APE" , which trade at a significant discount to common shares, jumped 15% to $2.05.
From Reuters • Aug. 14, 2023
A transistor radio tuned to the Big APE radio in Jacksonville blared through the locker room with a song by Peter, Paul, and Mary.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
