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• nap
  nap

  verb (used without object)

  to sleep for a short time; doze.
• -nap
  -nap

  a combining form extracted from kidnap, with the general sense “abduct or steal in order to collect a ransom”.

nap

¹ American  

[nap] / næp /

verb (used without object)

napped, napping

1. to sleep for a short time; doze.

   Synonyms:

   catnap, rest, nod

2. to be off one's guard.

   The question caught him napping.

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verb (used with object)

napped, napping

1. to sleep or doze through (a period of time, an activity, etc.) (usually followed byaway ).

   I napped the afternoon away. He naps away most of his classes.

noun

1. a brief period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime.

   Has the baby had her nap?

nap ² American  

[nap] / næp /

noun

1. the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping.

2. any downy coating, as on plants.

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verb (used with object)

napped, napping

1. to raise a nap on.

nap ³ American  

[nap] / næp /

noun

1. napoleon.

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-nap ⁴ American  

1. a combining form extracted from kidnap, with the general sense “abduct or steal in order to collect a ransom”.

   artnap; petnap; starnap.

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nap ¹ British  

/ næp /

noun

1. Also called: napoleon.  a card game similar to whist, usually played for stakes

2. a call in this card game, undertaking to win all five tricks

3. horse racing a tipster's choice for an almost certain winner

4. 1. to undertake to win all five tricks at nap

   2. to risk everything on one chance

5. slang to hold in disfavour

6. a position in which there is a very good chance of success if a risk is taken

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verb

1. (tr) horse racing to name (a horse) as likely to win a race

nap ² British  

/ næp /

noun

1. 1. the raised fibres of velvet or similar cloth

   2. the direction in which these fibres lie when smoothed down

2. any similar downy coating

3. informal blankets, bedding

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verb

1. (tr) to raise the nap of (cloth, esp velvet) by brushing or similar treatment

nap ³ British  

/ næp /

verb

1. to sleep for a short while; doze

2. to be unaware or inattentive; be off guard (esp in the phrase catch someone napping )

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noun

1. a short light sleep; doze

Other Word Forms

• naplessness
  noun
• napless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nap¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb nappen, Old English hnappian, hnæppian “to sleep, slumber, doze”; cognate with Old High German (h)naffezen, Middle High German, German nafzen “to slumber”

Origin of nap²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English noppe, nop(e); probably from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, nop, noppe; possibly from Old English (wull)hnoppa “(wool) tuft, tuft”

Origin of nap³

First recorded in 1820–25; shortened form of napoleon

Explanation

If you’re really tired during the day, go ahead and take a nap, even if you have to hide under your desk. A nap is a brief sleep. Good night. When you take a nap, you rest, usually during the daytime. In some cultures, everybody naps after lunch, while in other places naps are only for young children and elderly people. Sigh. A second meaning of nap is "slightly fuzzy texture," like the nap of a jacket or the nap of a rug. This kind of nap stems from the Middle Low German noppe, "tuft of wool."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nap napped napping

The time I scored a seat and managed to take a little nap on the ride to customs.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

If I can get a good power nap in, I’m ready to transition into more nighttime vibes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Once everyone is locked in, COs get to lounge around inside the bubble: eat, drink coffee, flirt with each other, complain, maybe nap until they have to perform the 10:30 p.m. count.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

He asked to take a nap in a mattress store.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Sal picked out a patch of shade and lay down for a nap.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

Some napped on a beach with their faces shielded from the sun by plastic bags or T-shirts, while others rested with backpacks tucked beneath their heads.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Its auditors analyzing a sample of ABA claims in each of those states found errors in every case, including billing for therapy while patients napped or watched videos, practices largely prohibited by Medicaid guidelines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

I didn’t look at my phone for days, and when B napped, I spent time among her things so I had the feeling of getting to know them.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2025

“I love this place,” Marion said in the space where a half-dozen other people napped and charged their phones.

From Seattle Times ● May 27, 2024

Even when the baby napped, there were soiled diapers to scrub and leave to soak in a pail of the disinfectant that the girl had insisted Rasheed buy for her.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

Strategic napping is also a power move to help refresh the brain for the afternoon.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

I’m surprised Rubio didn’t trot out after the cameras caught Trump napping to testify that he’s never seen him asleep.

From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2026

Wi Spa, with its hot and cold tubs, specialty saunas and napping nooks, has long been a beloved L.A. destination for rest and rejuvenation.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026

On a journey from the country's largest city Yangon to the capital Naypyidaw AFP journalists sat in air-conditioned carriages full of travellers napping and sharing tea, fried rice and instant noodles.

From Barron's ● Mar. 27, 2026

He was tired from not napping, and he’d be mean as a mosquito by suppertime if he didn’t sleep.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm