Napping Definition and Examples | How to Nap

Meaning 1：nap (Napping)

Napping 🔊

/ˈnæpɪŋ/

n., v.

To take a short, light sleep, usually during the daytime, not at night.

nap 🔊

➕

/næp/

n., v.

A short, light sleep taken during the day, often for rest or rejuvenation.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'nap' (short sleep) + '-ing' (suffix forming gerund/present participle).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a cat napping in a sunny spot – short and sweet.

📖 Example

After a busy morning of chores, she enjoyed napping on the sofa for twenty minutes. 🔊 After a busy morning of chores, she enjoyed napping on the sofa for twenty minutes.

🔗 Collocations

take a nap – take a nap

afternoon nap – afternoon nap

power nap – power nap

🔄 Synonyms

doze (v.) – To sleep lightly for a short time, often unintentionally.

snooze (n./v.) – A brief, light sleep, especially one taken during the day.

catnap (n./v.) – A very short sleep, often lasting only a few minutes.

🚫 Antonyms

awake (adj.) – Not asleep; conscious.

alert (adj.) – Fully awake and attentive.

🌱 Derivatives

napper (n.) – A person who takes a nap.

nappable (adj.) – Suitable for taking a nap.

📖 Cultural Story

Nap traces back to Old English 'hnappian,' meaning to doze. The gerund form 'napping' became common in the 1300s, referring to the act of taking a light daytime sleep.