nab

[ nab ]
See synonyms for nab on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),nabbed, nab·bing.Informal.
  1. to arrest or capture.

  2. to catch or seize, especially suddenly.

  1. to snatch or steal.

Origin of nab

1
1675–85; earlier nap; perhaps <Scandinavian; compare Danish nappe,Norwegian, Swedish nappa to snatch

Other words from nab

  • nabber, noun

Other definitions for NAB (2 of 2)

NAB

  1. Also N.A.B. National Association of Broadcasters.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nab in a sentence

  • They will be in for a sudden disappearance unless the marshal nabs them soon.

    Bound to Succeed | Allen Chapman
  • And jest when I was thinking that, a feller comes down the front steps of that house on the jump and nabs me by the coat collar.

    Danny's Own Story | Don Marquis
  • Next time you nabs me writin' a form sheet on any unknown, you can hang out the waste paper sign and send me to the scows.

    Torchy | Sewell Ford
  • "Ey'n spill t' last drop o' meh blood i' t' owd abbut's keawse," replied Hal o' Nabs.

    The Lancashire Witches | William Harrison Ainsworth

British Dictionary definitions for nab

nab

/ (næb) /


verbnabs, nabbing or nabbed (tr) informal
  1. to arrest

  2. to catch (someone) in wrongdoing

  1. to seize suddenly; snatch

Origin of nab

1
C17: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish nappe, Swedish nappa to snatch. See kidnap

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012