vape
Pronunciation
UK
- /veɪp/informalnoun
- /veɪp/noun
- /veɪp/informalintransitiveverb
US
- /ˈveɪp/
Description
- inhale vapor
- e-cigarette
- vaporizer
To vape is to inhale and exhale vapor from an electronic cigarette, vape pen, or similar device. Someone who says, "I don't smoke, I vape," usually means they use a device that heats liquid instead of burning tobacco.
The word vape can be both a verb and a noun. You might vape on a break outside a building, or you might keep a vape in your pocket. A vape often contains flavored liquid with nicotine, though the word is also used for devices connected with cannabis or other vaporized substances. Because vaping sits between technology, habit, health, and regulation, the word often appears in conversations about teenagers, addiction, smoking alternatives, public spaces, and changing social norms.
To vape means to inhale vapor or aerosol produced by an electronic device, often an e-cigarette, vape pen, or vaporizer. Instead of lighting tobacco with a flame, the device heats a liquid or substance until it can be breathed in. For example: "He stepped outside to vape," or "She quit cigarettes but still vapes."
As a noun, vape can refer to the act of vaping or to the device itself. "Can I take a vape?" might mean taking a puff, while "I lost my vape" means the person lost the device. In casual speech, vape is especially common among younger speakers and in everyday conversations about smoking, nicotine, and flavored products.
Vape is not limited to nicotine. In some contexts, especially where cannabis is legal or commonly discussed, a vape may refer to a device or cartridge used for cannabis oil. Because of this, the exact meaning depends on context: in one conversation it may suggest a nicotine e-cigarette, and in another it may point to a cannabis vaporizer.
The word also carries social and health-related associations. Some people talk about vaping as an alternative to smoking cigarettes, while others focus on its risks, addictiveness, or restrictions in schools, workplaces, restaurants, and public areas. "No vaping" signs are often posted right beside "No smoking" signs, showing how closely the two habits are linked in public rules.
So whether it describes the action, the device, or a broader debate about health and habits, vape is a modern word for breathing in vapor from a heated electronic device, often in the world of nicotine, flavors, and smoke-free substitutes.
Examples
- 1
Everyday action
He stepped outside to vape after lunch.
- 2
Personal device
I left my vape at home, so I did not use it all day.
- 3
Disposable products
She bought a disposable vape at the corner shop.
- 4
Past habit
He started vaping in college but has recently quit.
- 5
Indoor rules
Vaping is not allowed inside the building.
- 6
Health concerns
Some people mistakenly believe that vaping is harmless.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- vape