1
a
: a cleansing and emulsifying agent made usually by action of alkali on fat or fatty acids and consisting essentially of sodium or potassium salts of such acids
b
: a salt of a fatty acid and a metal
2
Synonyms
Examples of soap in a Sentence
Noun
Make sure you use soap and water to wash your hands.
The store sells many different brands of liquid soaps.
Her first acting job was on a soap.
Verb
I soap my hair first when I take a shower.
He soaped and rinsed the car.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kim Nichols, Parents, 30 Apr. 2024
No soap at the handwash sink next to the espresso machine in the food service area.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2024
Many actors get their starts in daytime soaps, but when Hollywood comes a-callin', who can resist?
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2024
These kits — packed with items such as soap, toothpaste and shampoo — are shipped to disaster areas worldwide to help prevent disease and maintain health when essential services like clean water and sanitation are disrupted.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
Parkes says that a mixture of water and a tiny bit of dish soap should work most of the time.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2024
Cybertruck owners will have to bring their vehicles into service centers for the free repair, since there’s no software fix for soap.
—Brian Barrett, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
The feeder should be changed out every 3-4 days to keep it from fermenting and it should be cleaned every week or so with soap and water.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Vo was a junior in high school selling bath bombs at a soap shop in Downtown Disney when she was encouraged to audition for a lookalike role at Disneyland Resort.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Set up an assembly line from soaping and scrubbing to rinsing to drying.
—Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
There’s also no need to soap yourself up twice in one day, my cousin reminds me.
—Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 21 July 2023
The Labigo Cordless Spin Scrubber makes cleaning easy, according to shoppers, eliminating the need to hunch over the bathtub and tirelessly tend to soap scum and hard water stains.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2023
This high-efficiency appliance has a unique two-stage detergent dispenser that releases soap in two different stages for more efficient cleaning power.
—Camryn Rabideau, Popular Mechanics, 25 Jan. 2023
Fill a large bucket or basin up with water, then use a cup to pour the water over your head once or twice to get wet and soap up, and another scoop or two to rinse off.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside Online, 25 Apr. 2021
Some chose to soap up the bottoms of their tube, while others extended their arms and legs in hopes of being aerodynamic.
—Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 5 July 2021
The original idea had also been bolstered by Ochoa’s own pre-filmmaking experience as a journalist wondering what went on behind the frosted glass and soaped up windows of north London’s secretive-looking Greek and Turkish social clubs.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2020
Noun
Common eczema triggers include wool, heat, or the chemicals in soaps, fragrances, lotions, and detergents.
—Kim Nichols, Parents, 30 Apr. 2024
No soap at the handwash sink next to the espresso machine in the food service area.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2024
Many actors get their starts in daytime soaps, but when Hollywood comes a-callin', who can resist?
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2024
These kits — packed with items such as soap, toothpaste and shampoo — are shipped to disaster areas worldwide to help prevent disease and maintain health when essential services like clean water and sanitation are disrupted.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
Parkes says that a mixture of water and a tiny bit of dish soap should work most of the time.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2024
Cybertruck owners will have to bring their vehicles into service centers for the free repair, since there’s no software fix for soap.
—Brian Barrett, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
The feeder should be changed out every 3-4 days to keep it from fermenting and it should be cleaned every week or so with soap and water.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Vo was a junior in high school selling bath bombs at a soap shop in Downtown Disney when she was encouraged to audition for a lookalike role at Disneyland Resort.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
Don’t try to multitask and rapidly soap up the colander between peeling potatoes.
—Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Set up an assembly line from soaping and scrubbing to rinsing to drying.
—Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
There’s also no need to soap yourself up twice in one day, my cousin reminds me.
—Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 21 July 2023
The Labigo Cordless Spin Scrubber makes cleaning easy, according to shoppers, eliminating the need to hunch over the bathtub and tirelessly tend to soap scum and hard water stains.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2023
This high-efficiency appliance has a unique two-stage detergent dispenser that releases soap in two different stages for more efficient cleaning power.
—Camryn Rabideau, Popular Mechanics, 25 Jan. 2023
Fill a large bucket or basin up with water, then use a cup to pour the water over your head once or twice to get wet and soap up, and another scoop or two to rinse off.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside Online, 25 Apr. 2021
Some chose to soap up the bottoms of their tube, while others extended their arms and legs in hopes of being aerodynamic.
—Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 5 July 2021
The original idea had also been bolstered by Ochoa’s own pre-filmmaking experience as a journalist wondering what went on behind the frosted glass and soaped up windows of north London’s secretive-looking Greek and Turkish social clubs.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Soap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soap. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
soap
1 of 2 noun1
: a substance that is usually made by the action of alkali on fat, dissolves in water, and is used for washing
2
: a salt of a fatty acid
3
soap
2 of 2 verb
: to rub soap over or into
Medical Definition
soap
noun1
: a cleansing and emulsifying agent made usually by action of alkali on fat or fatty acids and consisting essentially of sodium or potassium salts of such acids
2
: a salt of a fatty acid and a metal
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