What does "snap" mean?
A quick breaking or cracking sound or the action of producing such a sound.
Snap
/snæp/ adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A quick breaking or cracking sound or the action of producing such a sound.
- Grammar: snap is listed as adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: crack, pop, a continental, a curse.
- Useful contrasts: zippy, button, calm.
- Usage evidence: A home is a once-in-a-lifetime purchase so you don't want to make any snap decisions.
How to use "snap"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "snap" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "snap" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "snap" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "snap" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "snap" is acting as adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "crack" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "snap", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A quick breaking or cracking sound or the action of producing such a sound. countable, uncountable
- 2 Acronym of soluble NSF attachment protein. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 3 A visual message sent through the Snapchat application.
"The Snapstreak increases when you and your friend send a Snap to each other within a 24-hour period for three consecutive days."
- 4 (American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back wordnet
- 5 A sudden break. countable, uncountable
Show 47 more definitions
- 6 Clipping of Snapchat (“user account on Snapchat”). abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, colloquial
"“Can we exchange info or something? Maybe we can meet up tomorrow.” “Sure, my Snap is NoWaySims.” “That sounds like a fake account,” Ty said."
- 7 the act of catching an object with the hands wordnet
- 8 An attempt to seize, bite, attack, or grab. countable, uncountable
- 9 the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand wordnet
- 10 The act of snapping the fingers; making a sound by pressing a finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing to strike the hand. countable, uncountable
- 11 any undertaking that is easy to do wordnet
- 12 A fastening device that makes a snapping sound when used. countable, uncountable
- 13 a fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound wordnet
- 14 A photograph; a snapshot. countable, informal, uncountable
"We took a few snaps of the old church before moving on."
- 15 an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera wordnet
- 16 The sudden release of something held under pressure or tension. countable, uncountable
- 17 the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed wordnet
- 18 A thin circular cookie or similar baked good. countable, uncountable
"a ginger snap"
- 19 a sudden breaking wordnet
- 20 A brief, sudden period of a certain weather; used primarily in the phrase cold snap. countable, uncountable
- 21 a sudden sharp noise wordnet
- 22 A very short period of time (figuratively, the time taken to snap one's fingers), or a task that can be accomplished in such a period. countable, uncountable
"It'll be a snap to get that finished."
- 23 the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand wordnet
- 24 A snap bean such as Phaseolus vulgaris. countable, uncountable
- 25 a crisp round cookie flavored with ginger wordnet
- 26 A backward pass or handoff of a football from its position on the ground that puts the ball in play; a hike. countable, uncountable
"According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons, listed at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, played at least 100 snaps at five positions — slot cornerback, edge rusher, linebacker and both safety spots — and finished with 16½ tackles for a loss, eight sacks, eight pass deflections and three interceptions."
- 27 tender green beans without strings that easily snap into sections wordnet
- 28 A rivet: a scrapbooking embellishment. colloquial, countable, uncountable
- 29 a spell of cold weather wordnet
- 30 A small device resembling a safety pin, used to attach the bait or lure to the line. countable, uncountable
- 31 A small meal, a snack; lunch. UK, countable, regional, uncountable
"When I went to put my coat on at snap time, what should go runnin' up my arm but a mouse."
- 32 A card game, primarily for children, in which players cry "snap" to claim pairs of matching cards as they are turned up. uncountable
- 33 A greedy fellow. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"up rises a Cunning Snap, then at the Board, who desir'd to be Inform'd"
- 34 That which is, or may be, snapped up; something bitten off, seized, or obtained by a single quick movement; hence, a bite, morsel, or fragment; a scrap. countable, uncountable
"He's a nimble fellow, / And alike skill'd in every liberal science, / As having certain snaps of all."
- 35 Briskness; vigour; energy; decision. countable, uncountable
- 36 Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained. used primarily in the phrase soft snap. archaic, countable, slang, uncountable
"A Sea Soldier is certaine of victuals and wages, where the Land Soldiers pay will hardly find him sustenance. A Sea Soldier may now and than chaunce to haue a snapp at a bootie or a price, which may in an instant make him a fortune […]"
- 37 Something that is easy or effortless. countable, slang, uncountable
"I’m afraid my course is regarded as a ‘snap.’ Everybody, it seems, can grasp English literature (and produce it)."
- 38 A snapper, or snap beetle. countable, uncountable
- 39 jounce (the fourth derivative of the position vector with respect to time), followed by crackle and pop countable, humorous, uncountable
- 40 A quick offhand shot with a firearm; a snap shot. countable, uncountable
- 41 Something of no value. colloquial, countable, uncountable
"not worth a snap"
- 42 Alternative letter-case form of Snap.; A visual message sent through the Snapchat application. countable, uncountable
"By April 2014, over 700 million snaps are shared per day on Snapchat — more than Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social networks."
- 43 Alternative letter-case form of Snap.; Clipping of Snapchat (“user account on Snapchat”). abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, colloquial, countable, uncountable
"“[…] What’s your snap?” she asks. “Oh here.” He jerks for his phone not trying to test her patience or invitation. They trade info. “Cool,” she comments and memorizes his username."
- 44 A package provided for the application sandboxing system snapd developed by Canonical. countable, uncountable
- 45 A crisp or pithy quality; epigrammatic point or force. uncountable
- 46 A tool used by riveters. countable, uncountable
- 47 A tool used by glass-moulders. countable, uncountable
- 48 A brief theatrical engagement. countable, dated, slang, uncountable
- 49 A cheat or sharper. countable, dated, slang, uncountable
- 50 A newsflash. countable, uncountable
"A 'snap' usually becomes a 'newsflash' on air. Keep snaps short, only run them when news is really 'hot', and try not to break a story within a few minutes of the bulletin unless it is top priority."
- 51 An insult of the kind used in the African-American verbal game of the dozens. countable, slang, uncountable
"[…] black communities, this “snap” or example of the “dozens” (the clever form of insult also known as signifying and dissin') appears: “Your father's so black that when he falls down, people hop over him for fear of falling in.”"
- 52 A subgenre of hip-hop music derived from crunk. uncountable
"Snap is another music style that came out of Atlanta. Snap is an early- to mid-2000s hip hop style derived from crunk."
Verb
- 1 To fracture or break apart suddenly. intransitive, transitive
"He snapped his stick in anger."
- 2 To send a visual message through the Snapchat application. ditransitive
"“Snap Clark again, Bea,” Madeline said. “Hopefully he’ll send another bathing suit pic.” / Bea smoothed her hair down and sat up straight on the diving board. She sucked in her cheeks, making her lips all pouty, and took a selfie. For someone who didn’t know how to use Snapchat half an hour ago, she was really getting into it. / Two seconds later she held up her phone. “He Snapped back.”"
- 3 break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension wordnet
- 4 To give forth or produce a sharp cracking noise; to crack. intransitive
"Blazing firewood snaps."
- 5 close with a snapping motion wordnet
Show 33 more definitions
- 6 To attempt to seize or bite with the teeth, beak, etc. intransitive
"A dog snaps at a passenger. A fish snaps at the bait."
- 7 utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone wordnet
- 8 To attempt to seize with eagerness. intransitive
"She snapped at the chance to appear on television."
- 9 record on photographic film wordnet
- 10 To speak abruptly or sharply. intransitive
"He snapped at me for the slightest mistake."
- 11 cause to make a snapping sound wordnet
- 12 To give way abruptly and loudly. intransitive
- 13 put in play with a snap wordnet
- 14 To suffer a mental breakdown, usually while under tension. intransitive
"She should take a break before she snaps."
- 15 to grasp hastily or eagerly wordnet
- 16 To flash or appear to flash as with light. intransitive
- 17 bring the jaws together wordnet
- 18 To fit or fasten together with a snapping sound. intransitive
- 19 separate or cause to separate abruptly wordnet
- 20 To jump to a fixed position relative to another element. intransitive
"The floating toolbar will snap to the edge of the screen when dragged towards it."
- 21 lose control of one's emotions wordnet
- 22 To snatch with or as if with the teeth. transitive
"He, by playing too often at the mouth of death, has been snapped by it at last."
- 23 move or strike with a noise wordnet
- 24 To pull apart with a snapping sound; to pop loose. transitive
- 25 move with a snapping sound wordnet
- 26 To say abruptly or sharply. transitive
- 27 make a sharp sound wordnet
- 28 To speak to abruptly or sharply; to treat snappishly; usually with up. dated, transitive
"A surly, ill-bred Lord, That chides, and snaps her up at ev'ry Word"
- 29 To cause something to emit a snapping sound, especially by closing it rapidly. transitive
"to snap a fastener"
- 30 To close something using a snap as a fastener. transitive
- 31 To snap one's fingers: to make a snapping sound, often by pressing the thumb and an opposing finger of the same hand together and suddenly releasing the grip so that the finger hits against the palm; alternatively, by bringing the index finger quickly down onto the middle finger and thumb. transitive
"MacMorian[…] snapped his fingers repeatedly."
- 32 To cause to move suddenly and smartly. transitive
- 33 To move or shift suddenly. intransitive
"The soldiers snapped to attention as the colonel entered the room."
- 34 To take a photograph; to release a camera's shutter (which may make a snapping sound). transitive
"He snapped a picture of me with my mouth open and my eyes closed."
- 35 Alternative letter-case form of Snap (“to send a visual message through the Snapchat application”). alt-of, ditransitive
"As I set myself up the round table, my phone lit up with a few notifications on Snapchat. Gustin snapped me a few pictures of the three boys in the park."
- 36 To put (a football) in play by a backward pass or handoff from its position on the ground; to hike (a football). transitive
"He can snap the ball to a back twenty yards behind him."
- 37 To misfire. intransitive
"The gun snapped."
- 38 To catch out sharply (a batsman who has just snicked a bowled ball). transitive
Adjective
- 1 Done, made, performed, etc., quickly and unexpectedly, or without deliberation. attributive, informal, not-comparable
"a snap judgment or decision"
Intj
- 1 The cry used in a game of snap when winning a hand.
- 2 "I've got one the same!", "Me too!" Australia, British, broadly
"Snap! We've both got pink buckets and spades."
- 3 Used to express agreement. British, broadly
- 4 Used in place of an expletive to express surprise, usually in response to a negative statement or news; often used facetiously. Canada, US
"I just ran over your phone with my car. —Oh, snap!"
- 5 Used after something is said by two people at exactly the same time. Australia, British, New-Zealand
"—Wasn't that John? —Wasn't that John? —Snap!"
Proper Noun
- 1 Acronym of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. US, abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
"Lots of people who are in compliance with the new rules – either because they already work or meet exemption criteria – could lose their assistance because of red tape, said Dottie Rosenbaum, the center’s director of federal SNAP policy."
- 2 Clipping of Snapchat. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, colloquial
"Others pointed to messages on Snap, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube with doctored clips of “news reports” saying that voting was rigged where they lived and said, Why even bother voting?"
- 3 Acronym of Subnetwork Access Protocol. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 4 Acronym of Scalable Network Application Package. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, historical
- 5 Acronym of Symbolic Network Analysis Program. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"A home is a once-in-a-lifetime purchase so you don't want to make any snap decisions."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "snap"?
Common synonyms include: crack, pop, a continental, a curse, a damn, a darn.
How do you use "snap" in a sentence?
A home is a once-in-a-lifetime purchase so you don't want to make any snap decisions.
How do you pronounce "snap"?
Pronounced /snæp/.
Etymology
From Dutch snappen (“to bite; seize”) or Low German snappen (“to bite; seize”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *snappōn, from Proto-Germanic *snappōną (“to snap; snatch; chatter”), intensive form of *snapāną (”to snap; grab”, whence Old Norse snapa (“to get; scrounge”)), from Proto-Indo-European *snop-; compare Lithuanian snãpas (“beak, bill”). (One alternative hypothesis links the Germanic words to *snu-, an expressive root deriving words meaning “nose”, “snout”, “sniff” etc., but this is phonetically unsound.) In any case influenced by onomatopoeia; note expressions such as snip-snap, containing the formally unrelated snip. Cognate with West Frisian snappe (“to get; catch; snap”), German schnappen (“to grab”), Swedish snappa (“to snatch”). The verb is derived from the noun.