grab

¹ American  

[grab] / græb /

verb (used with object)

grabbed, grabbing

1. to seize suddenly or quickly; snatch; clutch.

   He grabbed me by the collar.

   Synonyms:

   catch, grip, grasp

2. to take illegal possession of; seize forcibly or unscrupulously.

   to grab land.

3. to obtain and consume quickly.

   Let's grab a sandwich before going to the movie.

4. Slang.

   1. to cause a reaction in; affect.

      How does my idea grab you?

   2. to arouse the interest or excitement of.

      The book was O.K., but it just didn't grab me.

---

verb (used without object)

grabbed, grabbing

1. to make a grasping or clutching motion (usually followed byat ).

   He grabbed frantically at the life preserver.

2. (of brakes, a clutch, etc.) to take hold suddenly or with a jolting motion; catch.

noun

1. a sudden, quick grasp or snatch.

   to make a grab at something.

2. seizure or acquisition by violent or unscrupulous means.

3. something that is grabbed.

4. a mechanical device for gripping objects.

5. the capacity to hold or adhere.

   The glue was so old it had lost its grab.

idioms

1. up for grabs, available to anyone willing to expend the energy to get it.

   The Republican nomination for mayor was up for grabs.

grab ² American  

[grab] / græb /

noun

1. a ship having two or three masts with a square rig, common on the Malabar Coast in the 18th and 19th centuries.

---

grab British  

/ ɡræb /

verb

1. to seize hold of (something)

2. (tr) to seize illegally or unscrupulously

3. (tr) to arrest; catch

4. (intr) (of a brake or clutch in a vehicle) to grip and release intermittently causing juddering

5. informal (tr) to catch the attention or interest of; impress

---

noun

1. the act or an instance of grabbing

2. a mechanical device for gripping objects, esp the hinged jaws of a mechanical excavator

3. something that is grabbed

4. informal available to be bought, claimed, or won

grab More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing grab

• how does that grab you
• up for grabs

---

Other Word Forms

• grabbable adjective
• grabber noun
• ungrabbing adjective

Etymology

Origin of grab¹

First recorded in 1580–90; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German grabben, Swedish grabba

Origin of grab²

First recorded in 1670–80; from Arabic ghurāb literally, “raven”

Explanation

When you grab something, you clutch at it. When a party-goer breaks open a piñata, the other guests usually grab wildly at the candy that cascades out of it. You can grab for the string of a balloon as it floats away, or grab your friend in a hug. Another way to grab is to make an impression: "When I hear a marching band, it grabs my attention." A "grab bag" is a random mixture of things, or a bag of goodies you can reach into and grab from. If something's "up for grabs." it's available: "This last piece of pie is up for grabs!"

Example Sentences

The startup is one of several AI firms rushing to grab coveted New York office space, even as desks outnumber employees.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Mendoza has first-round picks around him already with running back Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers at tight end, while the Raiders splashed out big money to grab centre Tyler Linderbaum to add yet more assistance.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

But if you can’t get a grab bag, you can perhaps sip on an award-winning wine.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

They offered us pro-bono services that were often genuinely helpful—but they’d also pitch splashy campaigns meant to grab attention, no matter what.

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

We skidded to a stop dead center, and as though we’d planned it, we reached out at the same time to grab hands.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• capture
• catch
• clutch
• grasp
• grip
• seize
• snag
• snatch
• take