snatch
Americanverb (used without object)
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snatches,
present (3rd person singular)
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snatched,
past participle, past
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snatching
present participle
verb (used with object)
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snatches,
present (3rd person singular)
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snatched,
past participle, past
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snatching
present participle
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to seize by a sudden or hasty grasp.
He snatched the old lady's purse and ran.
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to take, get, secure, etc., suddenly or hastily.
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to rescue or save by prompt action.
He snatched the baby from the fire.
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Slang. to kidnap.
noun
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snatches
plural
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the act or an instance of snatching.
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a sudden motion to seize something; grab.
He made a snatch as if to stop her.
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a bit, scrap, or fragment of something.
snatches of conversation.
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a brief spell of effort, activity, or any experience.
to work in snatches.
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Nautical. a sheave or projecting member serving as a fairlead.
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a brief period of time.
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Slang. an act of kidnapping.
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Slang: Vulgar. vulva; vagina.
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Weightlifting. a lift in which the barbell is brought in a single motion from the floor to an arms-extended position overhead.
verb
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(tr) to seize or grasp (something) suddenly or peremptorily
he snatched the chocolate out of my hand
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to seize or attempt to seize suddenly
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(tr) to take hurriedly
to snatch some sleep
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(tr) to remove suddenly
she snatched her hand away
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(tr) to gain, win, or rescue, esp narrowly
they snatched victory in the closing seconds
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(tr) (in weightlifting) to lift (a weight) with a snatch
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informal to leave a job, taking whatever pay is due
noun
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an act of snatching
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a fragment or small incomplete part
snatches of conversation
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a brief spell
snatches of time off
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weightlifting a lift in which the weight is raised in one quick motion from the floor to an overhead position
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slang an act of kidnapping
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slang a robbery
a diamond snatch
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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snatchernoun
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outsnatchverb (used with object)
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snatchableadjective
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unsnatchedadjective
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snatchinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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snatchsimple
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snatchessimple
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have snatchedperfect
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has snatchedperfect
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am snatchingprogressive
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are snatchingprogressive
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is snatchingprogressive
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have been snatchingperfect progressive
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has been snatchingperfect progressive
Past
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snatchedsimple
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had snatchedperfect
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was snatchingprogressive
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were snatchingprogressive
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had been snatchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of snatch
1175–1225; Middle English snacche (noun), snacchen (v.) < ?; cognate with Middle Dutch snacken
Explanation
When you snatch something, you grab it — either literally or figuratively. You might eagerly snatch the TV remote or your best friend's idea. Snatching can be nasty. You might snatch a lost balloon before it gets away, or snatch your cat before he can escape the room. The verb snatch can also be used in a figurative way, like when you snatch the first job offer that comes your way after graduating from college. The origin is most likely the Middle English word snacche, which means "to suddenly snap at," or in its noun form, "a trap."
Vocabulary lists containing snatch
"Thank You, M'am"
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Similes from Top AP English Exam Novels
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The two Billys almost snatch the movie from under its lead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
At one point, Nelson appears to snatch the other driver’s sunglasses from his forehead and heave them across the parking lot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
The New York Knicks overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit to snatch a 105-95 victory at the San Antonio Spurs in the opening game of the NBA Finals.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
The marauding monkeys brazenly snatch ice cream, cakes and crisps from unwitting tourists in addition to gobbling abandoned leftovers from bins or food directly offered to them.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
He called to his mate, and they dived together to snatch two fish caps from the heads in the boat.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
They included bricks that would play snatches of the iconic theme song and emit coin-collecting sound effects as Mario characters moved around.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
In Costa Rica, a rufous-vented ground cuckoo snatches a cicada fleeing an army ant swarm.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026
The mood at the Israeli pavilion seemed relaxed, with snatches of Hebrew heard amid the raft of languages in conversation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2025
Filthy walls were scrawled with names, pleas and snatches of poetry.
From New York Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
He snatches a leaflet, folds it, and slides it into his pocket.
From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Questions about his age and passing ability may have led teams to skip King during the draft in April, but the Panthers snatched him up in free agency immediately afterward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
"The government snatched away my son. If the paper had not leaked, Pradeep would be alive today. He would have been celebrating."
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
The Bronco, revived a year earlier, snatched a sale crown from Jeep Wrangler, which previously had no direct competition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
When freedom was snatched away, Elizabeth Turner’s mother fought back, and changed the Constitution.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026
I snatched up the gold, clutching it to my chest, then I turned and ran for The Woods.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
In the end, Seattle outmaneuvered and outbodied the Sparks, snatching steals and flipping the ball around the perimeter until the Storm fired off a shot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The officer invoked this exception against Lau, snatching his green card and “paroling” him into the country.
From Slate ● Jun. 23, 2026
But members understood the change would have meant snatching up to $800 a year more from their paychecks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
Anthropic, in particular, has been making high-profile hires, often snatching talent directly from the application-software companies that it’s disrupting.
From MarketWatch ● May 9, 2026
At the sound of the alarm, he shot up in size, snatching up Aru and Mini in the process so that they could stand on his open hands.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
