snap
snap
Snap (verb) means to break suddenly with a sharp cracking sound. Example: “The old rope snapped suddenly, and the boat drifted away from the pier.”
verb
1
To break suddenly with a sharp cracking sound.
"The old rope snapped suddenly, and the boat drifted away from the pier."
"The branch snapped under his weight."
"The pencil snapped in half."
2
To speak suddenly and sharply, often out of irritation.
""Mind your own business!" he snapped when I asked where he was going."
"Tired and hungry, the driver snapped at the children in the back."
"She snapped at him for being late again."
noun
1
A quick photograph.
"Grandad loves showing us every snap from his holiday on the old camera."
"Can you send me that snap of us at the beach?"
"He took a snap of the sunset on his phone."
adjective
1
Made suddenly, without much thought or planning.
"Buying the car on a snap judgement turned out to be a mistake."
"The manager made a snap call to cancel the match because of the storm."
"It was a snap decision to move abroad."
How to use snap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden break or sharp sound, a quick photo, or speaking abruptly and crossly.
Common pairings
snap in half
snap at someone
a snap decision
take a snap
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like snap.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Grandad loves showing us every _____ from his holiday on the old camera.
Etymology
From Dutch or Low German snappen ("to bite, seize"), likely echoing the sharp sound of something breaking.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for snap
See all rhymes for snap →Frequently asked questions
What does “snap” mean?
The word “snap” means to break suddenly with a sharp cracking sound. In plain terms, a sudden break or sharp sound, a quick photo, or speaking abruptly and crossly.
How do you pronounce “snap”?
“Snap” is pronounced snap (/snæp/ in IPA).
How do you use “snap” in a sentence?
Here is “snap” used in a sentence: “The branch snapped under his weight.”
What part of speech is “snap”?
Depending on how it is used, “snap” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “snap” come from?
The word “snap” comes from German. From Dutch or Low German snappen ("to bite, seize"), likely echoing the sharp sound of something breaking.
Is “snap” a common word?
“Snap” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “snap” have?
“Snap” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to break suddenly with a sharp cracking sound.
What is the difference between 'snap' and 'break'?
To 'snap' is to break suddenly with a sharp cracking sound, so it implies a quick, clean break in something stiff like a twig or bone. 'Break' is the general term and covers all kinds of breaking, whether sudden or slow, loud or silent. Every snap is a break, but not every break is a snap.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include snap:
