English Reference

Word

snap

US/ˈsnæp/

UK/snˈæp/

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.

“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.”

Antonyms

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.

“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.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

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.”

Synonyms

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.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

heatwave

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

press studpopper

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.”

Synonyms

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.”

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

jounce

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.”
The Guardian 7 Aug 2026
“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.”
The Guardian 14 Aug 2026

Word family

VERB

snap(C1)

ADJECTIVE

Related words

Idioms

Domains

ComputingFishingPhysics

This entry

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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