hap 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈhap How to pronounce hap (audio)
Definition of hapnext
1
as in event
something that happens we must make the best of both the good and the bad haps of life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in luck
the uncertain course of events by hap and circumstance, he ended up as a cartoonist in New York

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hap

2 of 3

noun (2)

dialect
as in quilt
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed the hap was a patchwork quilt that the old woman had made herself

Synonyms & Similar Words

hap

3 of 3

verb

as in to happen
to take place what wondrous events hath happed this Christmas Day?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hap
Noun
One false move can lead to trouble, and it hap-pens sooner or later to just about everybody who handles these reptiles. — Dr. C. E. Kuschel, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026 Looking for a slice of hap-Pi-ness? — Allison Kiehl, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2026 Check out his latest artwork, photos and adventures from the past, and current haps on his website Cory Richards Dot Com. — Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2025 The stars of 1989's hap-hap-happiest holiday comedy have kept busy since that dysfunctional dinner. — Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024 The company didn’t appear close to understanding the nature of the universe, but per haps that’s coming. — Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hap
  1. event
  2. luck
  3. quilt
  4. happen
  5. thing
  6. chance
  7. counterpane
  8. be
Noun
  • Forty years later, adult Calvin (Josh Hartnett) is still haunted by the event.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Each of the six main suspects get their chance to give their version of events on the day of Jodie’s death, effectively supplying their own alibis.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of event
Noun
  • Han called luck one of the most important things in the industry, and closed with advice for aspiring filmmakers.
    — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • South Florida monopolized the jackpot luck in Thursday’s lone major money Florida Lottery draw game.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of luck
Noun
  • Bedsure PureWoven Embroidered Quilt Anyone who’s anti-comforter can find a happy compromise in this cotton quilt, which is available in a dozen different colors to complement your bedroom’s color palette.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Sacramento Modern Quilt Guild is a community of upwards of 120 quilters from the Sacramento area who appreciate modern quilt aesthetics.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of quilt
Verb
  • Generally, meetings happen at least once per year, but the cadence may vary based on complexity and the scope of the engagement.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Though he’s dedicated to Snook’s Arm, Calvin realizes that strange things are happening.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of happen
Noun
  • The property is debuting as a member of Leading Hotels of the World, ushering in a new era of luxury for the area, and proving that, yes, chic and fabulous things can happen on either side of the Intracoastal.
    — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Flashing back to that traumatic experience, Rainbeau goes through every single thing Rosa needs to do before clocking off.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of thing
Noun
  • Traders are now pricing in a 78% chance that the Fed will keep rates unchanged at its next meeting, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The 100 contestants enter the vast kitchen arena ready for a chance to call the shots.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of chance
Noun
  • Beneath wall text describing Báthory’s ghoulish crimes and her macabre punishment, bloody mannequins in nightshirts, one with its throat hideously cut, sprawl across a counterpane.
    — Sam Lipsyte, Harper’s Magazine , 27 Apr. 2022
Definition of counterpane
Verb
  • But there were 22 fewer Korean releases, and Korean commercial films averaged a return of minus 33% in 2025.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Chatter in different languages filled the air; there were more thank you’s than grazie’s.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of be

Browse Nearby Words

hants
hap
haphazard
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Cite this Entry

“Hap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hap. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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