grab

¹ 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.

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grab ² 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.

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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 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

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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

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Other Word Forms

• grabbable adjective
• grabber noun
• ungrabbing adjective

Etymology

Origin of grab¹

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

Origin of grab¹

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

Example Sentences

Her son tried to grab his Switch once, but now he and his sister follow the rule.

From The Wall Street Journal

That could give opposition parties an edge in tight races in the 465 seats up for grabs this weekend.

From The Wall Street Journal

He threw a pass to Maxi Kleber that was a turnover, turned to run back on defense and immediately grabbed his left hamstring.

From Los Angeles Times

He was in Kenya when he decided to try his own hand: “I went back to my tent, grabbed a yellow manuscript pad, and started writing,” Mr. Winslow recalled in 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then he could grab it with his hand and put it into his hair, which felt good.

From Literature

Related Words

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