Definitions
01to break suddenly
B1 · Intermediate
v. to break something quickly with a sharp cracking sound.
v. to fracture or break apart suddenly, typically under tension or pressure, accompanied by a sharp report.
日本語:折れる※
“The dry branch snapped when I stepped on it in the woods.”
“The mast snapped under the sheer force of the gale, leaving the vessel at the mercy of the rising tide.”
02to lose patience
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to suddenly lose your temper or control because of stress.
v. to suffer a sudden psychological breakdown or loss of self-control under emotional or mental strain.
日本語:切れる※
“After weeks of working late, he finally snapped and shouted at his boss.”
“The witness appeared composed initially, but she eventually snapped under the relentless pressure of the cross-examination.”
03to take a photo
B1 · Intermediate Informal
v. to take a quick photograph.
v. to photograph something quickly or informally.
“He snapped a few pictures of the sunset before we left the beach.”
“The tourist snapped several candid shots of the street performers before moving on to the cathedral.”
Synonyms
04a sharp sound
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a sudden, short, cracking sound.
n. a sudden sharp noise, such as that produced by something breaking or by the fingers striking the palm.
“The silence was broken by the snap of a twig behind us.”
“The distinct snap of the briefcase closing echoed through the empty boardroom.”
05a cold period
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a short period of very cold weather.
n. a brief, sudden interval of specific weather conditions, almost exclusively used in the collocation 'cold snap'.
“A sudden cold snap in April killed many of the young flowers.”
“Meteorologists warned that the unexpected cold snap could cause significant damage to the region's citrus crops.”
Antonyms
06a fastener
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a small metal button used to close clothes that makes a clicking sound.
n. a fastening device consisting of two interlocking discs that close with a clicking sound.
“The baby's jacket has snaps instead of buttons to make it easier to put on.”
“The designer opted for hidden snaps rather than a zipper to maintain the garment's minimalist aesthetic.”
Synonyms
07easy task
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · Slang
n. something that is very easy to do.
n. a task or activity that requires little effort to complete successfully.
“The exam was a snap because I had studied all weekend.”
“After years of professional experience, navigating the complex software was a snap for the lead developer.”
08done quickly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. done or decided very quickly without much thought.
adj. made or done suddenly and without prior deliberation or preparation.
“You shouldn't make a snap decision about which car to buy.”
“The prime minister called a snap election in an attempt to capitalise on his party's recent surge in popularity.”
Antonyms
09physics movement
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Physics Technical · Humorous
n. a technical word for a specific type of fast movement in physics.
n. the fourth derivative of the position vector with respect to time; the rate of change of jerk.
“In our advanced mechanics class, we learned how to calculate snap.”
“The engineer noted that while the jerk was within limits, the snap of the robotic arm's movement was causing structural fatigue.”
Usage
Often used in the sequence 'snap, crackle, and pop'.
Synonyms
10computing package
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a type of software package used on some computer systems.
n. a software deployment and package management system that uses containerised applications.
“You can install the latest version of the editor as a snap.”
“The administrator preferred using snaps for server applications to ensure that dependencies remained isolated from the core operating system core.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “snap” in context.
Verb
01. snap a photo of the sunset
“She quickly snapped a photo of the sunset before the light faded completely.”
verb + noun + of + noun
02. snap the dry twigs
“We snapped the dry twigs to start a small fire in the woods.”
verb + noun
03. snap under the pressure
“After months of working overtime, he finally snapped under the pressure and quit his job.”
verb + prep + noun
04. suddenly snap at a colleague
“It was unlike him to suddenly snap at a colleague during a routine meeting.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Noun
05. snap of a finger
“The magician made the rabbit disappear with a simple snap of a finger.”
noun + of + noun
Adverb
06. audibly snap in two
“The frozen branch audibly snapped in two under the weight of the heavy snow.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
07. cleanly snap the plastic
“The tool is designed to cleanly snap the plastic without leaving jagged edges.”
adv + verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“By 11.40am, the roughly 1,000 wristbands had all been snapped up.” “Trio Piece is begun by Prieto and Iyer in staccato interval-hops and asymmetrical snare-drum snaps before Threadgill’s skimming flute lines glide in.” Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
01. cold snap
02. in a snap
03. in the snap of one's fingers
04. snap at
06. snap back
07. snap it up
08. snap judgment
09. snap out of
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/snap
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR