rapping

American  

[rap-ing] / ˈræp ɪŋ /

noun

• rappings
  plural

1. the act or sound of a person or thing that raps.

2. communication by the sound of taps or knocks, as between medium and spirit during a séance.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• rappings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of rapping

1350–1400; Middle English. See rap ¹, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rapping rappings

“High Fives” is a bit more uptempo and finds Drake rapping instead of singing, but low-stakes lyrics and ultimate tunelessness leave little impression.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

Lindo starts rapping on the wood table separating us and doesn’t stop until I ask if he’s a man given to superstition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026

"I'm getting up and doing a wee bit of rapping, so I am," he told BBC News NI.

From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2026

Before that, he tried his hand at rapping and worked as a foreclosure-prevention counselor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 31, 2025

Leah was shocked to read more than sixty pages about her parents, her little sisters, and a peddler’s rapping spirit.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

In Lily Dale, centre for spiritualists, he spent the most fantastic day in his life going to seances, listening to spirit rappings, interviewing mediums.

From Time Magazine Archive

Many of them have persecuted clergymen, as in the case of Methodism's founder, John Wesley, who was an interested observer of knockings, rappings and agitated warming pans at Epworth Rectory in 1716-17.

From Time Magazine Archive

Lemuel followed the rappings to find their source.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

It was a history of the spirit rappings complete with illustrations of the Hydesville house, Maggie Fox, Kate Fox, Elisha Kane, and a séance in progress.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Soon, “every part of the room trembled …” with rappings.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock