Standard Lemma guide

zap

intj · name · noun · verb · 24 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /zæp/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æp
  • CMU ARPABET: Z AE1 P Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

intj

Meaning 1

Representing the sound or action of a zap.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Then the computer went zap and I lost all my work.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

name

Meaning 2

A city and town in North Dakota.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A sound made by a sudden release of electricity or some similar energy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An electric shock.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial

Examples

  • You might feel a little zap touching a metal doorknob when the air is dry.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A raucous public demonstration designed to embarrass a public figure or celebrity as a form of political activism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

The act of heating something in a microwave oven.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To make a zap sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To use a remote control to repeatedly fast-forward or change channels on a television.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: channel surf, channel hop

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To strike (something or someone) with electricity or energy, as by shooting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • They spent the whole movie zapping bad guys into oblivion.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To kill; to eliminate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, slang, transitive

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To do away with something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To enliven.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To move or transport (something) in a brief time frame.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To damage (especially electronics) with electrostatic discharge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

Examples

  • I think they zapped the processor.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

verb

Meaning 15

To heat (something) in a microwave oven.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

Examples

  • If it's not warm in the middle, zap it some more.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

verb

Meaning 16

To delete or discard (electronic media).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

Examples

  • They zapped a lot of files before realizing they had not backed up lately.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

verb

Meaning 17

To further energize or charge (magnetic material).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

Examples

  • They zapped my motor's magnets.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

18

verb

Meaning 18

To photocopy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Singapore, informal, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

19

verb

Meaning 19

To participate in a zap (protest) against.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

20

noun

Meaning 20

a sudden event that imparts energy or excitement, usually with a dramatic impact

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they gave it another zap of radiation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: event

21

verb

Meaning 21

cook or heat in a microwave oven

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • You can microwave the leftovers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: microwave, micro-cook, nuke

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cook

22

verb

Meaning 22

strike at with firepower or bombs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • zap the enemy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nuke, atomize, atomise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bombard, bomb

23

verb

Meaning 23

kill with or as if with a burst of gunfire or electric current or as if by shooting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • in this computer game, space travellers are vaporized by aliens

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: vaporize

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: kill

24

verb

Meaning 24

strike suddenly and with force

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This show zaps the viewers with some shocking scenes

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: affect, impress, move, strike

History

Etymology

1920s, American English, of imitative origin.

Across languages

Translations

42 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Italian: zaff — representing the sound of a zap
  • Polish: trzask — representing the sound of a zap
  • Swedish: pang — representing the sound of a zap
  • Thai: จี๊ด (jíit) — representing the sound of a zap
  • German: Funkenschlag — sound
  • Polish: trzask — sound
  • Catalan: fiblada — electrical shock
  • German: (elektrischer) Schlag — electrical shock
  • Italian: scossa — electrical shock
  • Polish: porażenie prądem — electrical shock
  • Spanish: corrientazo — electrical shock
  • Polish: błyskać — make a zapping sound
  • Polish: błysnąć — make a zapping sound
  • Catalan: fer zàping — change channels repeatedly
  • Dutch: zappen — change channels repeatedly
  • Esperanto: zapi — change channels repeatedly
  • French: zapper — change channels repeatedly
  • French: faire du zapping — change channels repeatedly
  • Galician: zapear — change channels repeatedly
  • German: zappen — change channels repeatedly
  • Polish: skakać z kanału na kanał — change channels repeatedly
  • Portuguese: zapear — change channels repeatedly
  • Portuguese: zapar — change channels repeatedly
  • Portuguese: fazer zapping — change channels repeatedly
  • Spanish: zapear — change channels repeatedly
  • Spanish: hacer zapping — change channels repeatedly
  • Swedish: zappa — change channels repeatedly
  • Japanese: なぐる (naguru) — strike with energy
  • Japanese: 殺す (korosu) — strike with energy
  • Polish: szokować — strike with energy
  • Polish: zszokować — strike with energy
  • Russian: ударить током (udaritʹ tokom) — strike with energy
  • Russian: шандарахнуть (šandaraxnutʹ) — strike with energy
  • Polish: walić prądem — damage with electrostatic discharge
  • Polish: walnąć prądem — damage with electrostatic discharge
  • Polish: podgrzewać w mikrofalówce — heat in a microwave oven
  • Polish: podgrzać w mikrofalówce — heat in a microwave oven
  • Swedish: mikra — heat in a microwave oven
  • French: enlever — delete (electronic media)
  • Japanese: 削除する (sakujo suru) — delete (electronic media)
  • Polish: kasować — delete (electronic media)
  • Polish: skasować — delete (electronic media)