snap
Make a sharp cracking sound
To make a short, loud sound like something breaking.
to snap [something]
- She accidentally snapped the pencil in half.
- The branch snapped under his weight.
- I heard the rope snap and then fall to the ground.
- He snapped the lid shut with one hand.
- I snapped the stick.
- The branch snapped in the wind.
- She snapped the toy in two.
- I heard the door snap shut.
Speak sharply in anger
To speak in a short, angry way.
to snap at [someone]
- She snapped at her brother for interrupting.
- 'Don't touch that!' he snapped.
- I didn't mean to snap at you, I'm just tired.
- He snapped at me when I asked a question.
- She snapped at her friend.
- Dad snapped at us because we were late.
Take a quick photograph
To take a photo quickly without much planning.
to snap [a photo/picture] of [something]
- She snapped a photo of the sunset.
- He snapped a picture of the kids playing.
- Tourists were snapping selfies in front of the monument.
- I snapped a photo of my dog.
- She snapped a picture of the cake.
- He snapped a selfie with his phone.
Lose self-control suddenly
To suddenly get very angry or upset after being calm before.
to snap [mentally/emotionally]
- After hours of questioning, he finally snapped.
- She snapped under the pressure of work.
- He seemed fine all day, then suddenly snapped.
- He snapped after many problems.
- She snapped at work because she was tired.
- I will snap if this noise continues.
Short sharp cracking sound
A short loud sound like something breaking quickly.
- There was a loud snap as the branch broke.
- The door closed with a snap.
- I heard the snap of the rope giving way.
- I heard a snap from the tree.
- The door shut with a snap.
- There was a snap when it broke.
Fastener that clicks together
A small button-like thing on clothes or bags that clicks when closed.
- The jacket has snaps instead of buttons.
- She fixed the broken snap on her purse.
- The baby’s onesie closes with snaps.
- My coat has snaps on it.
- The bag closes with a snap.
- The shirt has metal snaps.
- Base: snap
- Plural: snap, snaps
- Base: snap
- 3rd Person Singular: snaps
- Present Participle: snapping
- Past: snapped
- Irregular present participle: snapping Verb
- Irregular past: snapped Verb
in a snap
1Happen very quickly and easily
Happening very fast and without trouble.
- She finished her homework in a snap.
- This app lets you edit photos in a snap.
like snapping your fingers
1Extremely easy or quick action/event
Something that is very easy or happens very fast, just like making a snapping sound with your fingers.
- For her, solving that puzzle was like snapping her fingers.
- The change happened like snapping your fingers.
snap out of it
1Stop being upset quickly
To quickly stop feeling sad, angry, or not paying attention, and return to normal thinking or behavior.
- You need to snap out of it and focus on your work.
- He finally snapped out of it after we talked to him.
snap to it
1Start working quickly now
To begin working hard or moving fast right away.
- Come on, snap to it — we’re late!
- He told the team to snap to it before the boss arrived.
snap up
1Quickly get something desirable
To get something quickly before other people can get it.
- Tickets for the concert were snapped up within minutes.
- She snapped up the last piece of cake.