rap
rap — noun
1. a popular style of music in which performers speak rhyming words in time to a st
a popular style of music in which performers speak rhyming words in time to a strong beat rather than singing them; it first developed in African American communities in the 1970s
Hana listens to fast-paced rap on her headphones while she does squats at the gym.
uncountable: no article needed for the genre
The first rap I ever heard was a track my older brother played for me.
Justin's new rap reached the top of the music charts last week.
countable: a specific rap song
Rohan switches on the kitchen radio at six to catch the evening rap show.
Nia joined a rap group at school and wrote her first lyrics at age fourteen.
- listen to rap
- rap music
- rap song
- rap artist
- rap group
- rap lyrics
- rap beat
Usage Note
Uncountable when referring to the genre as a whole ('I like rap'), but countable when referring to an individual song ('that rap').
Common Mistakes
2. a claim that someone has done something wrong, together with the responsibility
a claim that someone has done something wrong, together with the responsibility or penalty that may follow for it
Paloma took the rap for the mistake even though it was not her fault.
fixed phrase: 'take the rap' (accept blame)
Noa faced a burglary rap after the police found his fingerprints at the scene.
countable: 'a ... rap' for a specific charge
Maeve managed to beat the rap when the main witness changed her story in court.
fixed phrase: 'beat the rap' (avoid punishment)
Ada never received a rap for the missing money because no one could prove anything.
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- take the rap
- beat the rap
- face a rap
- a murder rap
- a burglary rap
- charge
more formal and neutral; used in legal contexts
- accusation
focuses on the claim rather than the formal legal process
- blame
broader term, not limited to criminal situations
Usage Note
Almost always appears in fixed phrases ('take the rap' = accept blame, 'beat the rap' = avoid punishment) or with a preceding adjective describing the type of charge ('a murder rap'). Rarely used as a simple standalone noun in everyday speech.
Common Mistakes
3. a strong negative reaction to something someone has done, especially when expres
a strong negative reaction to something someone has done, especially when expressed publicly
Maja got a harsh rap from her boss for missing the project deadline.
pattern: get a rap + from [person] + for [reason]
The new policy took a rap in the press for being unfair to small businesses.
pattern: take a rap + in [source] + for [reason]
Defne received a rap from her teacher for handing in her essay a week late.
The mayor earned a bad rap from residents after cutting funding for the local library.
pattern: earn a ... rap from [group]
- get a rap
- take a rap
- a harsh rap
- a bad rap
- an unfair rap
Usage Note
Typically appears as 'a rap' with a modifier ('a harsh rap', 'a big rap', 'a bad rap'). Sometimes also used without an adjective: 'got a rap'. Distinguish from sense 2 (CRIMINAL CHARGE), which has a legal meaning and appears in different fixed phrases.
Common Mistakes
4. a quick, sharp sound made when one hard object strikes another
a quick, sharp sound made when one hard object strikes another
A loud rap on the door made Hana jump up from her chair.
pattern: rap on + surface
Justin heard a sharp rap at the window and turned to see a bird outside.
A dry branch gave a sharp rap against the window when the storm blew in.
Ada heard a quick rap from the kitchen and went to see what had fallen.
- a rap on the door
- a rap at the window
- a sharp rap
- a soft rap
- a loud rap
Usage Note
Can also describe a light knock using the knuckles ('give a rap on the table'). Less forceful than 'bang' or 'thump'.
5. an informal and lively conversation between people who know each other well
an informal and lively conversation between people who know each other well
Iris sat on the porch having a good rap with her cousin until midnight.
uncountable pattern: 'a good rap' or 'a rap session'
The two old friends had a long rap about their childhood summers at the lake.
After dinner the whole family sat around the table for a rap about their week.
Nia and her roommate had a quick rap before heading off to their morning classes.
- a good rap
- have a rap with someone
- rap session
- chat
current and neutral; broader than 'rap'
- conversation
more formal; less idiomatic
Usage Note
Dated in modern American English; more commonly replaced by 'chat' or 'talk'. Still found in older texts or when deliberately evoking a 1970s–80s tone.
beat the rap
idiomTo avoid being punished for a crime or mistake.
The lawyer helped his client beat the rap.
Despite the evidence, he managed to beat the rap.
To receive or give a strong criticism or mild punishment for doing something wrong.
Mia got a rap on the knuckles for arriving late.
The teacher gave the students a rap over the knuckles for cheating.
To accept blame or punishment, especially for something that someone else did.
Diego took the rap for his brother's mistake.
She refused to take the rap for the broken window.
rap — verb
1. to strike something quickly and sharply, especially with the hand or a hard obje
to strike something quickly and sharply, especially with the hand or a hard object, often making a brief loud sound
Paloma rapped on the wooden table to get everyone's attention.
intransitive: rap + on + surface (to make a sound)
The teacher rapped the chalkboard with a ruler to quiet the class.
transitive: rap + [object] + with + [tool]
Noa rapped gently on the bedroom door before walking in.
Maeve rapped her knuckles against the glass to signal the driver.
- rap on
- rap against
- rap with
- rap gently
- rap sharply
- rap loudly
Grammar Patterns
rap + on + surface
rap + [person/thing] + on/in + body part
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'on' or 'at' for the surface being struck, and 'with' for the object doing the striking. Softer than 'pound' or 'bang', but sharper than 'tap'.
Common Mistakes
2. to speak or chant words in rhythm over a musical beat, in the style of rap music
to speak or chant words in rhythm over a musical beat, in the style of rap music
Hana started rapping at local clubs when she was just sixteen years old.
intransitive: simple subject + verb
Justin raps about growing up in a small town and the struggles his family faced.
pattern: rap about + [topic]
Nia and her best friend love to rap together over old hip-hop beats.
Tara rapped a short verse at the talent show and the crowd cheered loudly.
- rap about
- rap to a beat
- rap over a track
- rap a verse
- start rapping
Grammar Patterns
rap + about + [topic]
rap + to/on + [beat/track]
Usage Note
Subject is usually a person. Can be used transitively with a direct object referring to the lyrics or verse performed ('rap a verse'). Distinguish from noun sense 1 (RAP MUSIC) — the noun refers to the genre or song, while this verb refers to the act of performing.
Common Mistakes
3. to express strong official disapproval of someone or something, often in a publi
to express strong official disapproval of someone or something, often in a public statement
The minister was rapped by the press for failing to explain the budget cuts.
passive: be rapped + by [source] + for [reason]
Maja's boss rapped her sharply for arriving late to three meetings in a row.
active: rap [person] + for [reason]
The school board was rapped for not telling parents about the new schedule sooner.
The restaurant was rapped by health inspectors for keeping food at the wrong temperature.
- rapped for
- rapped by
- rapped sharply
- officially rapped
- publicly rapped
Grammar Patterns
rap + [person/institution] + for + [reason]
be rapped + for + [reason]
Usage Note
This sense is more common in British English and journalistic writing than in everyday American speech. The passive construction ('was rapped') is very frequent. Distinguish from noun sense 3 (STRONG CRITICISM), which refers to the criticism itself rather than the act of criticizing.
4. to speak in an open, relaxed, and extended way, sharing thoughts or feelings wit
to speak in an open, relaxed, and extended way, sharing thoughts or feelings without holding back
Iris rapped with her grandmother for hours about life in the old days.
pattern: rap with [person] about [topic]
The two cousins sat on the steps and rapped about their plans for the summer.
Hana and her best friend rapped for hours about where they wanted to travel next year.
The old men sat on a park bench and rapped about politics and baseball for the whole afternoon.
- rap with
- rap about
- rap for hours
Grammar Patterns
rap + about + [topic]
rap + with + [person]
Usage Note
Dated and informal. In modern English, 'chat' or 'talk' are more common. This sense overlaps somewhat with noun sense 5 (INFORMAL TALK) — the noun refers to the conversation itself, while this verb refers to the act of having it.
Word family
- rappernounB1
- rappingnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All three terms relate to modern popular music, but they refer to different elements. Rap is specifically the vocal style — words spoken in rhythm over a beat — and also the genre built around that style. Hip-hop is a broader cultural movement that includes rap music but also breakdancing, graffiti art, DJing, and fashion; not all hip-hop songs use rap vocals. R&B (rhythm and blues) focuses on sung melodies with a smoother, more soulful vocal delivery rather than spoken rhymes. A single track can blend all three: an R&B singer might deliver a sung chorus while a rapper performs verses over a hip-hop beat. For day-to-day use, say 'rap' when referring to the vocal delivery or the genre, 'hip-hop' when talking about the wider culture, and 'R&B' for melodic soul-influenced songs.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'rap' first appeared in Middle English around the 1300s meaning 'to strike sharply,' an imitation of the sound itself. By the early 1900s, African American English had taken the word in a new direction: 'to rap' came to mean 'to talk freely or frankly,' perhaps because rapid speech felt like a series of verbal strikes. In the 1970s, DJs and MCs in New York City began speaking rhyming lyrics over dance beats, calling the style 'rapping,' and the music genre adopted the old word for its new sound.