Ben acted out the scene of the waitress spilling soup in his lap.
Source: tatoeba (33796)
Lap
/læp/
Synonyms for "lap" (429 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (86)
Noun(5 words)
adjoinair raceambitanteriorityapparelappliquearcharch overarrayattireautomobile racebabblebathebe the bellwetherbeaconbeatbedeckbedrapebefringebestraddle
Show 61 more words
bestridebeveragebibbicycle racebindboat racebold frontborderboundboxbrave facebrave frontbreathbridgebrushbubblebumperbundlebundle upburblecaresscasecatch upcatch up withcirclecircuitcircuiteercirculatecircumambulatecircummigratecircumnavigatecircumventcloseclose the circleclothecoatcoatingcollopcome full circlecome up tocome up withcompasscompass aboutcontactcontest of speedcoveringcratecuddlecutcutaneous sensecycledashdealdeckderbydescribe a circledightdiskdisplaydog racedraft
Strong matches (129)
drag racedrain the cupdramdrapedraughtdraughtsmandraughtydrenchdressdrinkdrink bottoms-updrink deepdrink harddrink offdrink updudedgeembayembosomembox
Show 107 more words
embraceencapsulateencaseencircleenclaspencloseenclotheencompassendueendurance raceenfoldenframeenrobeenshroudenvelopenvironenwrapextendextend overfacadefacefacetfaciafalse frontfeelfeelingfeuillefilmfingertip caressflankflapflickflyfoilfoldfollow strong drinkfootraceforeforefrontforegroundforehandforelandforepartforequarterforesideforewordframefringefrontfront elevationfront manfront matterfront pagefront viewfrontagefrontalfrontierfrontispiecefull circlegaingain ongain upongarbgarglegarmentget ahead ofget beforegirdlegirdle the globeglancego aboutgo aroundgo around in circlesgo beforego roundgo the roundgrazegrogguggleguidegulpgurgleguzzlegyrehabilitatehand-mindednesshang overhave the startheadhead the lineheadingheathemhurdle raceimbibeimbricateimbricationinvestinvolvejutkissknock backlambencylamellalaminalaminated glasslaminated wood
Noun(2 words)
dripfront thighs
Related words (214)
Noun(21 words)
lap arealap coveringlapping seamlaps around tracklicklick uplickinglicksloopnonpronounoverlappingovertakepassplopslurpsplashsuperposedswimtongued the bowltongued the label
Show 1 more word
lap overlap uplappinglavele mansleadlead the dancelead the wayleafleave behindleave standinglibationlicklie overlight the waylight touchlineliplistloop
Show 163 more words
make a circuitmarathonmarathon racemarchmargemarginmarginatematch racemembranemotorcycle racemouthmuffle upnestlenipnuzzleobstacle raceobverseorbitoutpaceoutrunoutsailoutstripoverarchoverhangoverhauloverlapoverlappingoverlayoverlayeroverlieoverrideovertakepacepackpackagepanepanelpartspasspatinapeelpegpellicleplaitplankplashplateplatingplyplywoodportionpotationpotato raceprecedeprefaceprefixpriorityprosceniumpullpurflepurlquaffracerag outraimentrasherregattarelayrelay racerevolutionrevolveriderimrippleroad raceroberoundround triproundsrubrunsack racesafety glassscumsense of touchset offset the pacesheathesheetshingleshroudsidesipskinskirtslabslatslicesloshslurpsmothersnortsnugglesoaksoak upspanspearheadspeedway racespiralsplashsponge upsprintsprint racestagestand firststock-car racestrokesucksupsupportsurroundswaddleswashswatheswigswillswishtabletablettactile sensetactiontake the leadtaptentative pokethree-legged racetippletiretogtonguetopetorch racetoss downtoss offtottouchtourtrack racetrilltrimturnveneervergewaferwalkwashwashingwheelwhisperwindow dressingwrapwrap aboutwrap upyacht race
Adjective(1 words)
overlapping edge
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: circuit, overlap, adjoin, air race, ambit.
- Sentence evidence is available for lap, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "lap".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "lap"
Keep "lap" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "lap" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "lap", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "lap" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
34 entriesShowing 16 of 34 words.
More specific
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
Collocations
24 entriesfast lapfinal laplap beltlap blanketlap counterlap desklap doglap poollap recordlap the fieldlap the tracklap timelap waterlapping jointslapping seamlapping water
Showing 16 of 24 words.
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
10 entriesTranslations
3 translations across 1 languages.
Spanish
3 entries- lenguarada noun (Translations)
- lengüetada noun (Translations)
- lengüetazo noun (Translations)
Sample sentences
33 total sentences available.
You have only to sit quietly with your hands folded in your lap.
Source: tatoeba (68972)
The impudent child extended her legs across my lap.
Source: tatoeba (71716)
The child sat on his mother's lap and listened to the story.
Source: tatoeba (245636)
Showing 4 of 33 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "lap"?
Closest matches include circuit, overlap, adjoin, air race, ambit.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "lap"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.