snap

¹ American  

[snap] / snæp /

verb (used without object)

snapped, snapping

1. to make a sudden, sharp, distinct sound; crack, as a whip; crackle.

2. to click, as a mechanism or the jaws or teeth coming together.

3. to move, strike, shut, catch, etc., with a sharp sound, as a door, lid, or lock.

4. to break suddenly, especially with a sharp, cracking sound, as something slender and brittle.

   The branch snapped.

5. to act or move with quick or abrupt motions of the body.

   to snap to attention.

6. to take a photograph, especially without formal posing of the subject.

7. to make a quick or sudden bite or grab (often followed byat ).

8. to utter a quick, sharp sentence or speech, especially a command, reproof, retort, etc. (often followed byat ).

9. to be radiant; sparkle; flash, as the eyes.

---

verb (used with object)

snapped, snapping

1. to seize with or take, buy, or obtain as with a quick bite or grab (followed by up oroff ).

   The bargains were snapped up.

2. to secure, judge, vote, etc., hastily.

   They snapped the bill through Congress.

3. to cause to make a sudden, sharp sound.

   to snap one's fingers.

4. to crack (a whip).

5. to bring, strike, shut, open, operate, etc., with a sharp sound or movement.

   to snap a lid down.

6. to address or interrupt (a person) quickly and sharply.

7. to say or utter (words, a command, a retort, etc.) in a quick, sharp manner.

   to snap complaints.

8. to break suddenly, especially with a cracking sound.

   to snap a stick in half.

9. to take a photograph of, especially quickly.

10. Digital Technology. to move (an icon, line, window, or other displayed item) instantly and automatically into alignment with a grid or into a predetermined position, as to a corner or edge of the screen.

11. Digital Technology. to use a smartphone or other digital device to scan (a QR code or other source) in order to read the encoded text or URL and to browse the hyperlinked website or web page.

12. Building Trades. to transfer (a line) to a surface by means of a chalk line.

13. Football. to put (the ball) into play by tossing it back to the quarterback or other member of the offensive backfield, especially from between the legs when bent over double and facing the line of scrimmage; center.

14. Hunting. to fire (a shot) quickly, especially without raising the gun to aim from the eye.

noun

1. a quick, sudden action or movement, as the flick of a whip or the breaking of a twig.

2. a short, sharp sound, as that caused by breaking a twig or closing a latch.

3. a catch or fastener that closes by pressure and clicks together.

4. Informal. briskness, vigor, or energy.

   That song has a lot of snap.

5. a quick, sharp speech or manner of speaking.

   He uttered his commands with a snap.

6. a quick or sudden bite or grab, as at something.

   The fish ate with little snaps.

7. something obtained by or as by biting or grabbing.

   a snap of food.

8. a brittle cookie.

9. a short spell or period, as of cold weather.

   an unexpected cold snap.

10. snapshot.

11. Informal. an easy, profitable, or agreeable position, piece of work, or the like.

    This job is a snap.

12. Football. the act or an instance of snapping the ball.

13. snap bean.

14. Informal. snapdragon.

15. British. a packed lunch, as that carried by a worker or traveler.

adjective

1. fastening or closing with a click or snap, as a device fitted with a spring catch.

   a snap lock.

2. made, done, taken, etc., suddenly, offhand, or without warning: a snap election called years ahead of schedule.

   a snap judgment;

   a snap election called years ahead of schedule.

3. easy or simple.

adverb

1. in a brisk, sudden manner.

interjection

1. (an exclamation of surprise, wonder, pleasure, regret, disappointment, etc.).

   Oh snap! I forgot we had a test today!

verb phrase

1. snap to

   1. to come to attention.

      The troops snapped to when the colonel walked in.

   2. to shape up.

      If you don't snap to and study, you'll flunk the course.

idioms

1. snap out of, to free oneself from; recover from.

   It took him a long time to snap out of his grief.

2. snap / bite someone's head off. bite.

3. not give / care a snap of one's fingers for, to regard with indifference; treat lightly. Also not givecare a snap

4. snap one's fingers at. finger.

SNAP ² American  

[snap] / snæp /

noun

1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: a federal program for low-income Americans that provides them with electronically deposited benefits to pay for food, as at grocery stores or markets.

---

snap British  

/ snæp /

verb

1. to break or cause to break suddenly, esp with a sharp sound

2. to make or cause to make a sudden sharp cracking sound

3. (intr) to give way or collapse suddenly, esp from strain

4. to move, close, etc, or cause to move, close, etc, with a sudden sharp sound

5. to move or cause to move in a sudden or abrupt way

6. (intr; often foll by at or up) to seize something suddenly or quickly

7. to bite at (something) bringing the jaws rapidly together

8. to speak (words) sharply or abruptly

9. (intr) (of eyes) to flash or sparkle

10. to take a snapshot of (something)

11. (intr) hunting to fire a quick shot without taking deliberate aim

12. (tr) American football to put (the ball) into play by sending it back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate

13. informal

    1. to dismiss with contempt

    2. to defy

14. informal to recover quickly, esp from depression, anger, or illness

---

noun

1. the act of breaking suddenly or the sound produced by a sudden breakage

2. a sudden sharp sound, esp of bursting, popping, or cracking

3. a catch, clasp, or fastener that operates with a snapping sound

4. a sudden grab or bite

5. the sudden release of something such as elastic thread

6. a brisk movement of the thumb against one or more fingers

7. a thin crisp biscuit

   ginger snaps

8. informal See snapshot

9. informal vigour, liveliness, or energy

10. informal a task or job that is easy or profitable to do

11. a short spell or period, esp of cold weather

12. dialect food, esp a packed lunch taken to work

13. a card game in which the word snap is called when two cards of equal value are turned up on the separate piles dealt by each player

14. American football the start of each play when the centre passes the ball back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate

15. (modifier) done on the spur of the moment, without consideration or warning

    a snap decision

16. (modifier) closed or fastened with a snap

adverb

1. with a snap

interjection

1. 1. cards the word called while playing snap

   2. an exclamation used to draw attention to the similarity of two things

Usage

What is a basic definition of snap? Snap is a verb that means to break something suddenly. Snap is also used to mean to cause something to make a sharp noise. Snap is used informally as a noun to mean something is easy. Snap has many other senses as both a verb and a noun. Snap refers to something breaking without warning, especially if it makes a loud noise. Real-life examples: Tree limbs may snap during a storm. When a limb breaks, it usually does so loudly. You may snap your pencil into two pieces when struggling with a math problem. When you’re feeling generous, you may snap a chocolate bar in half to share with a friend. Used in a sentence: He snapped the cane in half over his knee. Snap is also used to mean to cause something to make a sudden, loud noise. Real-life examples: This sense of snap almost always refers to a noise a person can make by quickly rubbing their fingers together. An impatient boss may snap their fingers to get workers to move faster or your teacher may snap their fingers to get the class’s attention. A whip or rope may also be snapped by flicking it quickly so that it makes a loud cracking noise. Used in a sentence: I don’t know how to snap my fingers. Snap is used informally as a noun to mean something doesn’t take much effort or pays a lot of money for not much work. The word breeze is used informally to mean this same thing. Real-life examples: Some things that could be considered a snap include a very easy test, babysitting a child that sleeps the entire time, or getting paid to do something you were going to do anyway. Used in a sentence: After studying hard last night, that test was a snap and I passed it easily.

Other Word Forms

• snapless adjective
• snappable adjective
• snappingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of snap¹

First recorded in 1485–95; from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German snappen “to bite, seize”

Origin of SNAP²

First recorded in 2005–10

Explanation

Oh, snap! When something snaps, it breaks or separates suddenly, often with a cracking sound. A snap can also be a fastener on clothes. And if you like a song, you can snap your fingers to the beat or snap a selfie of yourself dancing. The verb snap is useful for many things that make a similar sharp sound, like when you snap your lunchbox shut, snap your fingers, or snap a whip. An animal's quick, strong bite is also a snap. As a noun, it can mean "fastener" or "the sound of a snap." A snap judgment is a decision you make almost instantaneously, and a cold snap is a short period of bitter weather.

Example Sentences

The PIF launched it in 2022, writing huge checks to snap up many of the top players in the sport, taking on the PGA.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

"When they fail, they fail catastrophically. They basically snap," said Peter Bennett, the association's executive director.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Scallions add structure — a mild bite and a bit of snap.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Your $40 bid may be the market and you might effectively snap up the stock at a steal.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 12, 2026

Some were harder to snap than others, and he wobbled, lying on his stomach, and wrapped his legs more firmly round the barrel of the branch.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• catch
• clutch
• grab
• jerk
• snatch
• yank