slap
1 Americannoun
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a sharp blow or smack, especially with the open hand or with something flat.
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a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack.
the slap of the waves against the dock.
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a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.
verb (used with object)
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to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or with something flat.
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to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.
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to dash or cast forcibly.
He slapped the package against the wall.
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to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often followed byon ).
The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.
adverb
verb phrase
idioms
noun
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a gap or opening, as in a fence, wall, cloud bank, or line of troops.
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a mountain pass.
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a wound or gash.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a sharp blow or smack, as with the open hand, something flat, etc
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the sound made by or as if by such a blow
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a sharp rebuke; reprimand
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informal sexual play
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an insult or rebuff
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congratulation
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a light punishment or reprimand
verb
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(tr) to strike (a person or thing) sharply, as with the open hand or something flat
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(tr) to bring down (the hand, something flat, etc) sharply
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to strike (something) with or as if with a slap
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informal (tr) to apply in large quantities, haphazardly, etc
she slapped butter on the bread
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to congratulate
adverb
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exactly; directly
slap on time
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forcibly or abruptly
to fall slap on the floor
Synonym Usage
See blow 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of slap1
First recorded in 1625–35; from Low German slapp(e); of expressive origin
Origin of slap2
First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English slop(e) “inroad made into enemy ranks,” from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; cognate with German Schlupf “hiding place”
Explanation
To slap someone is to hit them with the palm of your open hand. It's not nice to slap your sister, no matter how mad you are. A smack or open-handed blow is a slap, and you can also describe the sound it makes—or a similar sound—as a slap. You could describe the slap of water against the side of your rowboat, or say that your mom slaps her magazine against the table when she's done reading. Slap is also an informal adverb, meaning "immediately" or "directly:" "Sneaking out of class, he ran slap into the principal."
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.
See Examples For:
If the regulator's views on Meta are confirmed, the EU can slap a fine of up to six percent of the company's total worldwide annual turnover.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Manufacturers slap the word “grill” on the packaging of all types of cookers, alongside images of steaks with sear marks, even if they don’t actually involve searing over a live fire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
One X user from Toronto called it a "a slap in the face of this country. Distasteful doesn't begin to cover it".
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was forced to leave Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday after taking a puck to his face on a slap shot midway through the first period.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
Uppity hopped onto the wagon, gave the reins a slap, and galloped toward the Garner county Line.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
The label gets slapped on funds that do not agree on what “green” or “responsible” even means, and two ESG funds can hold completely different companies.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
They are not empty threats for the EU since China previously slapped duties on European cognac and conducted anti-dumping probes into pork and dairy products.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
When either of the two scores, Klugo releases a full-chested yell in celebration, and they slapped hands, a rhythm that repeats until the sets are over, until the game is over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
Promotional material for the tumbler had the phrase "tak on the table!" in Korean, using a word that sounds like an object being slapped on a table.
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
As he read, a branch of golden leaves steadily slapped the window above his head.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
“Science class starts… NOW!” the company posted on Facebook, noting that a moose has 6-foot antlers “for defending territory,” while a beaver has a flat tail “for slapping water.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
He’s slapping his name on other people’s accomplishments and trying to claim credit.
From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026
Brussels has also taken several steps to protect its market from what it describes as unfair Chinese competition, including slapping extra levies on small parcels from China.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
Marc Leonard, summoning every ounce of venom he could muster, thumped one on goal and it came slapping back off the crossbar.
From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026
“Enough chitchat,” he says, slapping me on the shoulder.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
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.
