English Reference
Verb

capping

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈkæpɪŋ/ UK /kˈæpɪŋ/ cap·ping UK spelling cappings Geology Mathematics

v.to lie or tell a story that is not true. People use this when they think someone is bragging or making things up.

v.to lie, exaggerate, or make false claims. Frequently used in African American Vernacular English and digital contexts to call out dishonesty or boasting.


SIMPLE

He said he won the lottery, but I know he's capping.

CONTEXTUAL

Stop capping about your high score because I saw your actual results on the screen.

COMPLEX

Social media users often accuse influencers of capping when their lifestyle posts appear too perfect to be authentic or consistent with their known history.

Usage

The verb is intransitive and often appears in the continuous form ('capping') or as the phrase 'no cap'.

Pitfall
He is capping to meHe is capping

In this slang sense, the verb is usually intransitive and does not require a prepositional object like 'to me'.

The artist limited use of her 3D printer to a standard work week of 38 hours, capping output at one tile per day.

The Guardian· 20 Aug 2026

Other international cities to use some form of a fare capping system include London, Dublin, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Toronto Sun· 31 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated