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• yap
  yap

  verb (used without object)

  to bark sharply, shrilly, or snappishly; yelp.
• Yap
  Yap

  noun

  one of the Caroline Islands, in the W Pacific: part of the Federated States of Micronesia. 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km).

yap

¹ American  

[yap] / yæp /

verb (used without object)

yaps, present (3rd person singular) yapped, past participle, past yapping present participle

1. to bark sharply, shrilly, or snappishly; yelp.

2. Slang. to talk shrilly, noisily, or foolishly.

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verb (used with object)

yaps, present (3rd person singular) yapped, past participle, past yapping present participle

1. to utter by yapping.

noun

1. a sharp, shrill, or snappish bark; yelp.

2. Slang.

   1. shrill, noisy, or foolish talk.

   2. the mouth.

      Keep your yap shut.

3. Slang. an uncouth or stupid person; bumpkin; fool.

Yap ² American  

[yahp, yap] / yɑp, yæp /

noun

1. one of the Caroline Islands, in the W Pacific: part of the Federated States of Micronesia. 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km).

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yap ¹ British  

/ jæp /

verb

1. (of a dog) to bark in quick sharp bursts; yelp

2. informal to talk at length in an annoying or stupid way; jabber

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noun

1. a high-pitched or sharp bark; yelp

2. slang annoying or stupid speech; jabber

3. slang a derogatory word for mouth

interjection

1. (usually reiterated) an imitation or representation of the sound of a dog yapping or people jabbering

Yap ² British  

/ jɑːp, jæp /

noun

1. a group of four main islands in the W Pacific, in the W Caroline Islands: administratively a district of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1947; became self-governing in 1979 as part of the Federated States of Micronesia; important Japanese naval base in World War II. Pop: 11 647 (2006 est). Area: 101 sq km (39 sq miles)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• yapper
  noun
• yappingly
  adverb
• yappy
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has yapped
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have yapped
  perfect
• has been yapping
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are yapping
  progressive
• have been yapping
  perfect progressive
• is yapping
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am yapping
  progressive 1st person singular
• yapping
  participle
• yaps
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had yapped
  perfect
• were yapping
  progressive plural
• had been yapping
  perfect progressive
• yapped
  simple
• yapped
  participle
• was yapping
  progressive singular

Future

• will yap
  simple
• will have yapped
  perfect
• will have been yapping
  perfect progressive
• will be yapping
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of yap

1595–1605; 1900–05 yap for def. 5b; imitative

Example Sentences

“The inclusion to the DoD list is unlikely to translate into revenue or earnings impact,” Citi analyst Alicia Yap said in a research note.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Yap thinks the Hy3 preview takes a “pragmatic” approach, focusing on real-world applications over lab scores.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

“You have the power to choose coexistence over extinction,” Tiffany Yap, the center’s urban wildlands science director, told commissioners before the vote.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Citi analyst Alicia Yap said the release was “better than feared” as she reiterated her buy recommendation and a share-price target of $44 — roughly 40% above current levels.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 13, 2025

“And then the blasted beagles run off and disappear altogether, yap! Yap, yap!”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• babble
• ramble