What does napping mean?
Napping means sleeping lightly for a short time, usually during the day. It can describe a deliberate rest, as in taking a power nap, or a brief accidental sleep, as when someone dozes during a quiet afternoon. The word is informal in tone but entirely standard, and it appears in both British and American English. Napping is distinct from a full night's sleep because it generally implies a short and relatively light sleep, although naps can occasionally be longer and deeper. Common expressions include “power nap,” “nap time,” and “taking a nap.” In conversation, “napping” can suggest that someone is resting, relaxing, or briefly asleep, and it may also carry the implication that the person is not fully awake or alert. The word is useful for describing a common daytime activity without specifying whether the sleep was planned.
verbTo sleep lightly for a short period, usually during the day. The sleep may be intentional or may occur briefly and unintentionally.
- To sleep lightly for a short period, usually during the day.
"She was napping on the sofa when the phone rang."
"He napped for a few minutes before the meeting began."
"The baby was napping, so I quietly left the room."
A brief daytime sleep, often called a power nap, can be a useful reset during a long day.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does napping come from?
Napping is the present participle of the verb nap, meaning to sleep briefly. Its vocabulary descends from Middle English nappen and Old English hnappian, associated with sleeping or dozing. The word belongs to a Germanic family of expressions for light sleep or drowsiness, with related forms appearing in other Germanic languages.
Related word forms
How napping is actually used
This word is neutral in register and is common in both formal and informal English. It is especially associated with a short daytime sleep, though it can also describe falling asleep briefly by accident.
Easily confused with napping
Napping means taking a short sleep, whereas mapping means making a map or recording information systematically.
Napping refers to sleeping briefly, while knapping means breaking small pieces of a hard material such as flint or glass.