cap
18 synonyms and 0 antonyms for cap, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A soft, close-fitting hat, often with a brim or peak, and no full brim all the way round.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use cap
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English cæppe ("hood, head-covering"), itself borrowed from Late Latin cappa. The same root eventually gave English "cape," "cope," and "chapel."
Full origin of cap →Frequently asked questions
What does “cap” mean?
The word “cap” means a soft, close-fitting hat, often with a brim or peak, and no full brim all the way round. In plain terms, most often a soft hat, a protective cover, or a maximum limit — plus, in slang, a lie.
How do you pronounce “cap”?
“Cap” is pronounced kap (/kæp/ in IPA).
How do you use “cap” in a sentence?
Here is “cap” used in a sentence: “He pulled his baseball cap low to shade his eyes.”
What part of speech is “cap”?
Depending on how it is used, “cap” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cap” come from?
The word “cap” comes from Late Latin. From Old English cæppe ("hood, head-covering"), itself borrowed from Late Latin cappa. The same root eventually gave English "cape," "cope," and "chapel.".
Is “cap” a common word?
“Cap” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “cap” have?
“Cap” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, close-fitting hat, often with a brim or peak, and no full brim all the way round.
What is the difference between a cap and a hat?
Hat is the general word for any head covering, and a cap is one particular kind. A cap is soft and close-fitting, usually with a peak or short brim at the front rather than a full brim all the way round. So every cap is a hat, but not every hat is a cap.
What are the different types of cap?
Everyday styles include the baseball cap with its curved peak, the flat cap and its cousin the newsboy, the knitted beanie, and the beret. There are also uniform and military caps, swimming caps, and skull caps. What they share is a snug fit and the absence of a full surrounding brim.
What is the difference between a cap and a beanie?
Both are soft, close-fitting caps, but they differ in shape and material. A beanie is a knitted, brimless cap that hugs the head for warmth. A cap in the usual sense, like a baseball cap, has a stiff peak at the front. In short, a beanie is a brimless, snug type of cap.
What is the peak of a cap called?
The stiff projecting part at the front that shades the eyes is called the peak in British English and the bill or visor in American English. It is the feature that sets caps like the baseball cap apart from brimless styles, helping to shield the face from sun and rain.