: the back of the neck

Examples of nape in a Sentence

Her hair was tied back at the nape of her neck.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This was the era of the wedge cut, when women were enthralled by the Olympic figure-skating champion Dorothy Hamill; hair was worn short, napes exposed. Bruce Handy, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 Hairstylist Virginie Moreira parted manes in the middle and knotted the hair with a soft hand, for a not-so-messy bun leaving a tuft free to fall on the nape. Sandra Salibian, WWD, 25 Sep. 2024 Cutting the back: Release a small section at the nape and let the curls fall naturally. Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 26 July 2024 Thanks to Russell’s gamine pixie crop, the necklace’s central 11-carat stone twinkled alluringly at the nape of her neck, meaning that paparazzi were craning their necks for that 360 degree full-look view. Laura Hawkins, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nape 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nape was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near nape

Cite this Entry

“Nape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nape. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nape

noun
: the back of the neck

Medical Definition

nape

noun
ˈnāp also ˈnap
: the back of the neck

More from Merriam-Webster on nape

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!