noun
Uncommon
tapping
Tapping (noun) means the act of striking something lightly and repeatedly. Example: “The tapping of her pen against the desk grew increasingly annoying.”
noun
1
The act of striking something lightly and repeatedly.
"The tapping of her pen against the desk grew increasingly annoying."
"I could hear the soft tapping of rain on the window all night."
"The tapping at the door woke the baby just after she had fallen asleep."
2
A guitar technique where strings are struck against the fretboard rather than plucked.
"The guitarist showed off with a rapid tapping solo."
"Her tapping technique lets her play two separate melodies at the same time."
"He practised tapping for weeks before he could play the fast part cleanly."
How to use tapping
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLight, repeated striking — whether of fingers on a surface or a guitar technique.
Common pairings
finger tapping
guitar tapping
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like tapping.
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
- Plural
- tappings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of her pen against the desk grew increasingly annoying.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tapping
mapping
rapping
lapping
yapping
zapping
napping
flapping
wrapping
trapping
slapping
clapping
snapping
See all rhymes for tapping →
Frequently asked questions
What does “tapping” mean?
The word “tapping” means the act of striking something lightly and repeatedly. In plain terms, light, repeated striking — whether of fingers on a surface or a guitar technique.
How do you use “tapping” in a sentence?
Here is “tapping” used in a sentence: “The tapping of her pen against the desk grew increasingly annoying.”
What part of speech is “tapping”?
“Tapping” is a noun.
Is “tapping” a common word?
“Tapping” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tapping” have?
“Tapping” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of striking something lightly and repeatedly.
What is the difference between tapping and tap dancing?
Tapping generally means striking something lightly and repeatedly, while tap dancing is a specific performance style where the feet create rhythmic tapping sounds. Tap dancing is one specialized application of the broader tapping action.
What is tapping in guitar playing?
Tapping is a guitar technique where the player strikes the strings against the fretboard with the fingers instead of plucking them, producing notes directly from the impact. It is commonly used to play fast, fluid passages, especially in rock and metal styles.
Is tapping always a musical or rhythmic action?
No, tapping most broadly just means striking something lightly and repeatedly, such as tapping a pen on a desk or tapping a foot. The musical and guitar-specific senses are more specialized uses of this general action.
