gripping

American

[grip-ing] / ˈgrɪp ɪŋ /

adjective

holding the attention or interest intensely; fascinating; enthralling.

a gripping play; a gripping book.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of gripping

First recorded in 1620–30; grip + -ing ²

Vocabulary lists containing gripping

12 More Interesting Ways to Say "interesting"

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Spelling Practice 1, Unit 1

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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.

Gripping the wheel tightly, the student cautiously rounded the corners of the parking lot for nearly an hour.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024

Gripping the bar, he’d effortlessly curl whichever weight I’d used, doing at least 20 repetitions.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2023

Gripping a Taco Bell Drag Brunch-branded folding fan, she declared her first drag show “breathtaking.”

From New York Times • May 27, 2022

Gripping a pen and writing isn’t always challenging, but sometimes it is.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2021

Gripping his dagger in readiness, Matthias crept into the right-hand tunnel.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023