cap
cap — verb
- cappresent simple I / you / we / they
- caps3rd person singular
- capping-ing form
- cappedpast simple
1. to fix a maximum amount that may be charged, paid, or spent for a particular act
to fix a maximum amount that may be charged, paid, or spent for a particular activity
The government capped the price of basic medicines at NT$200 per box.
active: cap + noun + at + amount
Tuition fees at public universities have been capped at NT$60,000 per year.
passive: be capped at + amount
The insurance company capped its payouts for flood damage at NT$3 million.
Under the new policy, bank fees are capped at two percent of the loan amount.
- cap spending
- cap prices
- cap fees
- capped at [amount]
- cap payouts
- capped budget
Grammar Patterns
cap + noun + at + amount
be capped at + amount
Usage Note
Frequently used in the passive voice ('be capped at [amount]'). The object is typically a financial figure such as a price, fee, payment, or budget.
Common Mistakes
2. to be chosen to represent your country in a sports competition by playing on the
to be chosen to represent your country in a sports competition by playing on the national team
Kenji was capped for Japan at the age of seventeen in a friendly match.
passive: be capped for + country
The coach capped three new players for the match against Brazil.
active: coach caps player
If Gabriel plays next week, he will have been capped for Brazil ten times.
Eshe hopes to be capped for Kenya before she turns twenty years old.
- be capped for [country]
- capped [number] times
- capped at [age]
- newly capped player
Grammar Patterns
be capped for + country
cap + player
cap for + country
Usage Note
Most common in the passive form ('be capped for [country]'). The coach can also be the active subject ('The manager capped three new players'). 'Cap' in this sense is closely related to the noun sense of a ceremonial hat given to national team players.
Common Mistakes
3. to put a lid or cover over the opening of a container or other object in order t
to put a lid or cover over the opening of a container or other object in order to close or protect it
Darius capped the bottle tightly and put it back in the fridge.
active: cap + object + adverb
The old well had been capped with a heavy stone slab after the accident.
passive: be capped with + material
Baraka capped his pen and slipped it into his shirt pocket before the meeting.
Heavy snow capped the mountains overnight, leaving a thick white layer on every peak.
inanimate subject: snow caps mountain
- cap a bottle
- cap a pen
- cap a pipe
- capped with snow
- cap a well
- tightly capped
- uncap
to remove the cap or cover from an opening
Grammar Patterns
cap + noun (object)
be capped with + noun
Usage Note
Often used with objects that have an opening — bottle, pipe, well, pen. Can also describe natural landscapes, where natural features form a cover on top of something (e.g. snow-capped mountains).
Common Mistakes
4. to deliberately say something untrue, especially as a way of deceiving or impres
to deliberately say something untrue, especially as a way of deceiving or impressing others
Imran was capping when he told everyone his dad owned a private jet.
past continuous: was capping
Stop capping — I know you did not actually meet the president.
imperative: stop capping
Rafael said he scored four goals, but his friends knew he was capping.
Ada said her uncle worked for the royal family — everyone knew she was capping.
- stop capping
- no cap
- capping about [something]
- be capping
- tell the truth
the opposite action to lying or capping
Grammar Patterns
stop capping
be capping
no cap
Usage Note
Informal slang, especially in British youth speech. Often appears in the fixed phrase 'no cap' (meaning 'for real / no lie') as a discourse marker to insist something is true.
Common Mistakes
cap — noun
- capsingular
- capsplural
1. a soft cloth hat with a stiff curved front piece, commonly worn by sports player
a soft cloth hat with a stiff curved front piece, commonly worn by sports players and workers as part of their outfit
The baseball coach tipped his cap to the crowd after the game.
collocation: tip one's cap (show respect)
Nala wears a white cap and an apron when she works at the bakery.
All the soldiers in the parade wore blue caps with gold badges on them.
collocation: wear a cap as part of a uniform
Camille bought a new cap with her favourite football team's logo on it.
- tip one's cap
- wear a cap
- put on a cap
- take off one's cap
- baseball cap
- hat
general term for any head covering; cap is a specific type of hat with a peak
- baseball cap
a particular style of cap with a rounded crown and long peak, often with a team logo
Usage Note
Often used with specific team or job titles: 'baseball cap', 'school cap', 'flat cap'. In British English, 'cap' is the standard word for this kind of hat; in American English, 'baseball cap' is more specific.
Common Mistakes
2. a thin, tight-fitting hat made of rubber or silicone, worn over the hair while s
a thin, tight-fitting hat made of rubber or silicone, worn over the hair while swimming or showering to keep it dry
Tariq always puts on a red swim cap before he jumps into the pool.
collocation: put on a swim cap
The swimming coach handed each student a bright yellow cap for the race.
A shower cap keeps your long hair dry when you bathe.
usage in shower context
Imran forgot his swim cap, so the lifeguard lent him a spare one.
- swim cap
- swimming cap
- put on a cap
- wear a cap
- swimming cap
the full form, more common in British English than 'swim cap'
- shower cap
a similar cap worn only in the shower, usually made of plastic
Usage Note
Commonly called 'swimming cap' in British English and 'swim cap' in both varieties. Can be specified as 'shower cap' for the version worn in the shower.
Common Mistakes
3. an award in a sport given to a player who represents their country in an interna
an award in a sport given to a player who represents their country in an international match, usually in the form of a special hat
Sumin earned her first cap for the Korean national football team at age nineteen.
collocation: earn one's first cap (debut appearance)
With 120 caps, the veteran player holds the record for most international appearances.
The young forward was delighted to receive his first cap in the match against Brazil.
collocation: receive a cap
Elena was proud to win her first cap for the Scottish rugby team last weekend.
- earn a cap
- win a cap
- receive a cap
- first cap
- international cap
- international appearance
the standard alternative term; less traditional but more widely understood outside British football culture
Usage Note
The term 'cap' in this sense comes from the tradition of presenting a player with a physical cap for each international appearance. The number of 'caps' a player has equals the number of international matches they have played.
Common Mistakes
4. a plastic or metal piece that seals a bottle, pen, jar, or tube so the contents
a plastic or metal piece that seals a bottle, pen, jar, or tube so the contents do not leak or dry out
Esme twisted the cap off the water bottle and took a long drink.
Always put the cap back on the toothpaste tube after you use it.
collocation: put the cap back on
A blue plastic cap keeps the marker from drying out between uses.
Lisa could not open the jar because the cap was stuck too tight.
- screw the cap
- twist the cap
- put the cap back on
- take the cap off
- bottle cap
- pen cap
Usage Note
Used for screw-on lids and snap-on tops alike. 'Lid' is more common for jars and pots; 'cap' is more common for bottles, tubes, and pens.
Common Mistakes
5. a man-made cover that a dentist places over a damaged or discoloured natural too
a man-made cover that a dentist places over a damaged or discoloured natural tooth to repair its shape and strength
After the cavity became too large, Jessica needed a cap on her back tooth.
The dentist fitted a white ceramic cap that matched the colour of Asher's other teeth.
collocation: fit a cap (dental procedure)
A gold cap can last for many years with proper brushing and flossing.
Ari was nervous about getting a cap, but the dentist said it would not hurt.
- dental cap
- tooth cap
- fit a cap
- put a cap on
- gold cap
- ceramic cap
- crown
the more formal dental term, used by dentists in clinical contexts
- dental crown
the full technical name for a tooth-shaped covering
Usage Note
In dentistry, 'cap' and 'crown' are used interchangeably, though 'crown' is the more formal clinical term. This sense is always countable — you have one cap, two caps.
Common Mistakes
6. the broad, rounded top section of a mushroom, sitting on the stem and often shap
the broad, rounded top section of a mushroom, sitting on the stem and often shaped like an umbrella
Amihan sliced the mushroom caps and fried them with garlic for the pasta.
collocation: mushroom cap
The white cap of the mushroom opened wide after the rain stopped.
Wild mushrooms with red caps and white spots are often poisonous.
- mushroom cap
- cap of a mushroom
- slice the caps
Usage Note
When cooking, recipes often say 'mushroom caps' to describe the whole mushroom with the stem removed. This is the most common everyday context for this sense.
7. a contraceptive cup worn inside the body during sex that lowers the chance of pr
a contraceptive cup worn inside the body during sex that lowers the chance of pregnancy by keeping male reproductive cells away from the womb
Amira's doctor recommended a cap as a reliable form of birth control.
recommend + cap as birth control
The nurse showed Hannah how to insert the cap correctly before having sex.
insert the cap correctly
Some women choose the cap because it does not change their natural hormone levels.
The clinic offers free fitting appointments for women who want to use a cap.
fitting appointment for a cap
- fit a cap
- insert a cap
- remove a cap
- cap and spermicide
- diaphragm
similar device but larger and shaped differently; diaphragm covers the cervix while a cap fits more tightly over it
- contraceptive
much broader term covering any method of preventing pregnancy
Usage Note
This type of cap is used with a spermicidal cream or gel for full effectiveness. It must be fitted by a healthcare professional.
8. a small paper tube containing a trace of gunpowder that pops loudly when struck,
a small paper tube containing a trace of gunpowder that pops loudly when struck, designed for use in toy guns
The children laughed each time a cap went off inside their toy gun.
collocation: cap + go off in a toy gun
Yael bought a roll of bright red caps for her nephew's birthday present.
Each paper cap contains just enough powder to produce a sharp bang and nothing more.
how a cap works: paper + powder + bang
The roll of caps cost only a few dollars at the shop near the school.
- a roll of caps
- a strip of caps
- caps for a toy gun
- fire a cap
- a cap goes off
- percussion cap
more technical term; used in actual firearms historically, not toys
Usage Note
Often used in the plural form 'caps' when referring to a strip or roll of multiple units. Common in children's toy guns and party poppers.
9. a restriction placed on the maximum sum of money that may be spent, borrowed, or
a restriction placed on the maximum sum of money that may be spent, borrowed, or billed in a given context
The insurance company raised the annual cap on dental claims to 30,000 dollars.
collocation: raise/lower the cap on [spending]
Wei's credit card has a daily spending cap of 5,000 dollars.
The city government set a cap on how much rent landlords can increase each year.
cap on [activity]: a money limit
The new law places a legal cap on late fees that banks can charge customers.
- a cap on spending
- place a cap on
- lift the cap
- raise the cap
- a price cap
- a spending cap
- impose a cap
- floor
a minimum lower limit, the opposite of a cap
Usage Note
Frequently followed by 'on' + noun phrase (e.g., 'a cap on spending', 'a cap on interest rates'). Common in financial and insurance contexts.
Common Mistakes
10. the tall, large form of letters that open sentences and mark names and titles, a
the tall, large form of letters that open sentences and mark names and titles, also called uppercase
Please write your full name in caps on the application form.
instruction: write in caps
The chapter headings in this textbook are printed in bold caps for easy reading.
Hari forgot to switch to caps when he typed the email subject line.
typing: switch to caps / in caps
The sign was written entirely in red caps so drivers could see it from far away.
- in caps
- all caps
- block caps
- write in caps
- bold caps
- switch to caps
- capital letters
the full form; 'caps' is an abbreviation
- uppercase
technical term used in typing and computing contexts
- block capitals
British English term, often used on official forms
- lowercase
the small form of letters
- small letters
everyday term for lowercase
Usage Note
Used only in the plural form 'caps'. When asking someone to use capital letters, common phrases are 'in caps', 'all caps', or 'in block caps'.
Common Mistakes
11. a deliberately false statement intended to deceive someone — used in informal Am
a deliberately false statement intended to deceive someone — used in informal American slang
Everything he told me about the salary was cap, from the pay to the bonuses.
informal slang: [be] cap = be a lie
Layla knew straight away that her excuse for being late was complete cap.
No cap, I really did see a bear walking through the garden last night.
phrase: no cap = for real / no lie
Don't listen to him — everything that comes out of his mouth is cap.
- no cap
- that's cap
- [something] is cap
- all cap
- truth
the opposite of a lie or false statement
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively in informal spoken American English, especially among younger speakers. The phrase 'no cap' means 'I am not lying' or 'seriously'. Do not use in formal writing.
Common Mistakes
An achievement or success that you can feel proud of.
Winning the science fair was a real feather in Min's cap.
Did Sara consider her promotion a feather in her cap?
To ask someone for something, usually money, in a humble way that shows you are in a weaker position.
Diego refused to go cap in hand to his wealthy uncle.
After losing her job, Maya had to go cap in hand to the bank.
If a criticism or description seems to apply to you, you should accept it.
I didn't name anyone, but if the cap fits, wear it.
Aiden said the comment was not directed at you, but if the cap fits...
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Like 'hat', 'cap' refers to headwear, but a cap has a front peak or visor and fits closer to the head, whereas a 'hat' typically has a brim that extends all the way around. A 'bonnet' is a soft fabric hat tied under the chin, a 'beanie' is a snug knitted cap with no peak, and a 'beret' is a flat round cap of French origin. Beyond clothing, 'cap' extends into several unrelated domains: a bottle cap (lid), a spending cap (limit), a tooth cap (dental crown), and, in slang, 'cap' meaning a lie (as in 'no cap'). Context is the key to disambiguation — if the sentence is about uniforms or sports, it is headwear; about money or prices, it is a limit; near a bottle or pen, it is a lid. Recognising this polysemy helps Taiwanese learners read 'cap' accurately across finance, dentistry, sport, and everyday conversation.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'cap' traces back to Late Latin 'cappa', meaning a hood, cape, or head-covering — the same root that gave English 'cape' and 'cope'. It entered English through Old French during the medieval period, originally referring to a hood or cape. By the 1400s it had narrowed to mean a fitted head covering without a full brim. The 'limit' meaning (both verb and noun: 'to cap prices', 'a spending cap') grew figuratively from the idea of topping or covering something to stop further upward movement — as a lid stops a container. The sports sense — an appearance for the national team — arose from the 19th-century British tradition of awarding a ceremonial cap to each player representing their country. The slang use for a lie ('stop capping', 'no cap') emerged in African American Vernacular English in the early 2000s, likely evolving from earlier slang 'capping' meaning to brag or exaggerate.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb (1)