1 A2 neutral
To enter information by lightly pressing buttons on a keypad or touching a screen.
"Just tap in your PIN and press confirm."
separable
tap in
B1 neutral separable transitive
To enter data by lightly pressing a touchscreen or keypad, or to score easily by tapping a ball into a goal.
In plain English
To put information into a phone or computer by touching the screen, or to gently kick a ball into the goal from very close.
What does "tap in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
(Football/soccer) To score a goal easily by gently pushing or kicking the ball from close range.
"The striker tapped in a simple goal from inside the six-yard box."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To tap (touch lightly) something in (into the device/goal).
Actually means
To put information into a phone or computer by touching the screen, or to gently kick a ball into the goal from very close.
Usage tip
The digital sense is increasingly common with smartphones and tablets. The football (soccer) sense describes an easy close-range goal. The PIN/code sense is very common in everyday life with bank cards and passcodes.
Words that pair with "tap in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
PIN code password number goal details address
How to conjugate "tap in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tap in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
taps in
he/she/it
Past simple
taped in
yesterday
Past participle
taped in
have + pp
-ing form
taping in
continuous
Hear "tap in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "tap in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.