to fish by letting the bait fall lightly on the water.
to dip lightly or suddenly into water.
The bird dapped for the fish.
to bounce or skip, as on the surface of a body of water.
The stone dapped along the surface of the pond.
to cause to dip in and out of water.
to dap one's bait.
to cause to skip along the surface of water.
to dap stones across the river.
Carpentry. to notch (a timber) to receive part of another timber.
angling to fish with a natural or artificial fly on a floss silk line so that the wind makes the fly bob on and off the surface of the water
(intr) (as of a bird) to dip lightly into water
to bounce or cause to bounce
First recorded in 1575–85; probably variant of dab 1
First recorded in 1970–75; originally African American Vernacular English and used by African American soldiers during the Vietnam War; further origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of dab 1 ( def. ) or tap 1 ( def. )
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They dap each other up as they criss-cross through the crowd and sing along to the music.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025
Back at his familiar post, he had a chance to dap up old classmates from Lewiston High—Fazla had served as class president—as they came by for late-night snacks.
From Slate ● Dec. 4, 2024
I shout, walking from behind the wooden counter reserved for the facility’s law clerks to the front area designated for the general population so I can dap him up.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2024
But because Dap was outlawed by the U.S. military, soldiers who used dap were punished.
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2024
Trey gives them dap as they come in.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
"There are rumours we may not get DAP and urea," he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
That marks the first time DAP has declined since Meta started reporting the metric.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Another Palm Springs project — a partnership between the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition and DAP Health, a local healthcare provider — received a $750,000 predevelopment loan that was repaid at the start of construction.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2025
Today, groups like The DAP Project celebrate dap as the love language that it is.
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2024
I draw you! a horse draw you, and a halter, You, and your flies together— DAP.
From The Alchemist by Jonson, Ben
Was this the guy who just the other day had dapped me in the hallway?
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2025
Ford ran around the ring and dapped his homies in the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2023
It was the first time Wentz and McLaurin had run the fade in camp, McLaurin said, and they dapped excitedly multiple times walking back to the sideline.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 7, 2022
Soon afterward, the two dapped each other up and embraced; McVay then tapped Stafford on the helmet as the team jogged to the sideline before the formal player introductions.
From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2022
"Take half die dogs downstream, I'll go up—•" Wex dapped his hands together loudly.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
How can one be too sure that the DNA of dapping transferred between Africans of the continent and Africans of the diaspora?
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2024
Chiles sprinted across the grass, gleefully dapping receiver and longtime friend Bryant Carey after a long touchdown toss.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2022
“It’s always great when he comes around because everybody loves my lil’ man being in the locker room, coming up and shaking everybody’s hand, dapping everybody up,” Galloway said.
From Washington Post ● May 17, 2021
A photo of crips throwing up their gang sign sits above a photo and explanation of dapping and another of Michelle and Barack Obama fist-bumping.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 24, 2019
They all swung their hands toward me, dapping me as Coach continued, "You proved that you can get it if you want it. Now get back on the line."
From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds
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.
