English Reference

Word

tapped

US/ˈtæpt/

UK/tˈæpt/

Definitions

01hit lightly

A2

v. hit something quickly and lightly, often making a small sound.

v. the past tense of tap, meaning to strike a surface with a light, rhythmic blow.

“He tapped on the window to get my attention while I was reading.”

“The drummer tapped out a complex rhythm on the edge of the snare drum during the jazz solo.”

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Antonyms

02crazy or eccentric

C1

adj. acting in a strange, silly, or crazy way.

adj. denoting someone who is mentally unstable, eccentric, or acting irrationally.

“You must be tapped if you think I'm going out in this storm.”

“The locals thought the old hermit was completely tapped because he spent his afternoons talking to the seagulls.”

Slang · British English

Teaching tip

Common in British and London-based slang; it can range from lighthearted teasing to a genuine insult about someone's mental state.

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Antonyms

03monitored by police

B2 · Law

adj. when a phone or room has a secret device to listen to conversations.

adj. subject to a wiretap or covert electronic surveillance.

“The criminal was careful what he said because he suspected his phone was tapped.”

“Detectives obtained a warrant to ensure the suspect's landline was tapped throughout the duration of the investigation.”

Synonyms

04exhausted or used up

B2

adj. having no energy or resources left.

adj. depleted of resources, energy, or funds; often used in the phrase 'tapped out'.

“I'm completely tapped out after working twelve hours straight.”

“By the end of the month, the charity's emergency fund was entirely tapped, leaving them unable to assist new applicants.”

Informal

Antonyms

05connected to a source

C1 · Technical

adj. connected to a supply of something, like water or information.

adj. fitted with a tap or connected to a source of supply to draw off liquid or data.

“The engineers tapped into the main water line to supply the new building.”

“The hackers successfully tapped into the secure server, gaining access to thousands of encrypted files.”

Technical

Synonyms

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“Kit Harington has been tapped to join the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series as the wizarding world's celebrity-turned-Hogwarts instructor Gilderoy Lockhart, HBO confirmed to the BBC.”
BBC News · 24 Aug 2026
“Since 2024, Meta has tapped an army of influencers to promote its safety tools for teens.”
The Guardian · 18 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference