1
a
: the fluid part of a plant
specifically
: a watery solution that circulates through a plant's vascular system
b(1)
: a body fluid (such as blood) essential to life, health, or vigor
(2)
: bodily health and vigor
2
: a foolish gullible person
sapped; sapping
sapped; sapping
: to proceed by digging a sap
1
: to subvert by digging or eroding the substratum or foundation : undermine
2
a
: to gradually diminish the supply or intensity of
sapped her strength
b
: to weaken or exhaust the energy or vitality of
the illness sapped him of his stamina
3
: to operate against or pierce by a sap
: the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications
Examples of sap in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a child full of sap and vivacity
some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam
the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline
I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years
Verb (1)
weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted
Recent Examples on the Web
David Goldman, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
Trump has no more elections to fight — assuming his suggestions of an unconstitutional third term come to nothing — but any steeper decline in his popularity could sap his political capital and eventually put the Republican Party in serious trouble in the 2026 midterms.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
Howard County Times, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2025
Aphids excrete the sap as honeydew, leaving leaves sticky and susceptible to sooty mold.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sap
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
Prices have tumbled over the course of the past couple of weeks as investors feared Trump’s trade policy could sap demand for travel, shipping and transportation — all of which require fuel.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
Trump has no more elections to fight — assuming his suggestions of an unconstitutional third term come to nothing — but any steeper decline in his popularity could sap his political capital and eventually put the Republican Party in serious trouble in the 2026 midterms.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
Learning about the art of maple sugaring, when the sap from trees is collected to make syrup while on a hike, a cooking demonstration, and a tasting Saturday at Robinson Nature Center.
—Howard County Times, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2025
Aphids excrete the sap as honeydew, leaving leaves sticky and susceptible to sooty mold.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sap
Cite this Entry
“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sap. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sap
1 of 2 noun1
: the fluid part of a plant
especially
: a watery solution that circulates through a higher plant and carries food and nutrients
2
: bodily health and vigor : vitality sense 3b
3
: a foolish person who is easily tricked or cheated
sap
2 of 2 verb
sapped; sapping
1
: undermine sense 2
heavy waves sapped the seawall
2
: to weaken gradually
illness sapped my strength
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