gripe

[grahyp]

verb (used without object)

griped, griping 

1. Informal.,  to complain naggingly or constantly; grumble.

   Synonyms: bellyache, rail, carp, mutter, whine

2. to suffer pain in the bowels.

3. Nautical.,  (of a sailing vessel) to tend to come into the wind; to be ardent.

verb (used with object)

griped, griping 

1. Informal.,  to annoy or irritate.

   His tone of voice gripes me.

2. to produce pain in (the bowels) as if by constriction.

3. to distress, afflict, or oppress.

   poverty that gripes and pinches us.

4. Nautical.,  to secure (a lifeboat) to a deck or against a pudding boom on davits.

5. Archaic.

   1. to seize and hold firmly with the hand, claws, etc.; grasp; clutch.

   2. to greedily take possession of and hold tightly.

      The miser gripes his money for fear of losing it.

noun

1. Informal.,  a nagging complaint.

2. Pathology.,  Usually gripes. an intermittent spasmodic pain in the bowels.

3. something that grips or clutches; a claw or grip.

4. Nautical.

   1. a lashing or chain by which a boat is secured to a deck or in position on davits.

   2. Also called gripe piece. a curved timber connecting the stem or cutwater of a wooden hull with the keel.

   3. the exterior angle or curve formed by this piece; forefoot.

   4. the forward end of the dished keel of a metal hull.

5. Archaic.

   1. the act of gripping, grasping, or clutching.

   2. a firm hold; clutch.

   3. mastery; hold; control.

6. Rare.,  a handle, hilt, etc.

gripe

/ ɡraɪp /

verb

1. informal,  (intr) to complain, esp in a persistent nagging manner

2. to cause sudden intense pain in the intestines of (a person) or (of a person) to experience this pain

3. (intr) nautical (of a ship) to tend to come up into the wind in spite of the helm

4. archaic,  to clutch; grasp

5. archaic,  (tr) to afflict

noun

1. (usually plural) a sudden intense pain in the intestines; colic

2. informal,  a complaint or grievance

3. rare

   1. the act of gripping

   2. a firm grip

   3. a device that grips

4. (in plural) nautical the lashings that secure a boat

Other Word Forms

• griper noun
• gripingly adverb
• gripeful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gripe¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gripen, Old English grīpan; cognate with Dutch grijpen, German griefen; grip, grope

Word History and Origins

Origin of gripe¹

Old English grīpan; related to Gothic greipan, Old High German grīfan to seize, Lithuanian greibiu

Example Sentences

Are you going to sit on the radical left side of your sofa and gripe about what’s happened to your country, or get with the program and try to do a few pushups?

From Los Angeles Times

He never griped that he was pitching on short rest, or pitching with a bum arm, or pitching with a terrible offense and an untrustworthy bullpen.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s just a lot of griping about any exhibit acknowledging that people other than straight white men did stuff, or hinting at history being more nuanced than 5-year-old’s picture book.

From Salon

Their thoughts have since been echoed by many doubles specialists, who also gripe about losing a crucial earning opportunity after being pushed out in favour of the stars.

From BBC

Which leads me to my biggest gripe: Why did some characters feel so distant?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• carp 
• grumble 
• moan 
• murmur 
• mutter 
• nag 
• squawk