Slaps
verb (as adjective) /slæps/ — Something excellent — especially music that hits hard
Definition
Used to describe something, especially a song or piece of music, that is excellent — particularly in the sense of hitting hard, landing with impact, and demanding attention. 'That slaps' is emphatic approval.
Beyond the definition
Slaps carries physical weight — the approval isn't gentle. It's the music that makes you stop what you're doing. The word makes you feel the approval in your chest.
Origin & history
English slang from African American Vernacular English. From the physical impact of bass in music — the slap of a bass string or a hard beat. Emerged in Bay Area and West Coast hip-hop culture.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
This whole album slaps. Every single track.
You said it was just okay but it slaps. You're wrong.
That bass line slaps so hard you feel it before you hear it.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Slaps” when the meaning fits your context: Used to describe something, especially a song or piece of music, that is excellent — particularly in the sense of hitting hard, landing with impact, and demanding attention. 'That slaps' is emphatic approval.
Synonyms
bangs, hits, fire, bops
Antonyms
mid, boring, trash
Related words
Slaps vs good
While 'good' is a general positive assessment, 'slaps' is specific to music or food that impacts you intensely. Use 'slaps' for high-energy experiences, whereas 'good' works for anything pleasant.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Conductor at Peak of Performance
A conductor stands before an orchestra with arms and body in an expansive, intense gesture as the music reaches its absolute peak.
The performance slaps. The intensity, energy, and total command of the musician hit with undeniable impact, demanding immediate attention. The peak of the sound and the conductor's movement are emphatic, showing a quality that is beyond critique because it is so forcefully excellent.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Slaps" mean?
Slaps is verb (as adjective) meaning: Something excellent — especially music that hits hard. Used to describe something, especially a song or piece of music, that is excellent — particularly in the sense of hitting hard, landing with impact, and demanding attention. 'That slaps' is emphatic approval.
Where does the word "Slaps" come from?
English slang from African American Vernacular English. From the physical impact of bass in music — the slap of a bass string or a hard beat. Emerged in Bay Area and West Coast hip-hop culture.