grab
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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grabs,
present (3rd person singular)
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grabbed,
past participle, past
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grabbing
present participle
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to seize suddenly or quickly; snatch; clutch.
He grabbed me by the collar.
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to take illegal possession of; seize forcibly or unscrupulously.
to grab land.
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to obtain and consume quickly.
Let's grab a sandwich before going to the movie.
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Slang.
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to cause a reaction in; affect.
How does my idea grab you?
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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)
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grabs,
present (3rd person singular)
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grabbed,
past participle, past
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grabbing
present participle
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to make a grasping or clutching motion (usually followed byat ).
He grabbed frantically at the life preserver.
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(of brakes, a clutch, etc.) to take hold suddenly or with a jolting motion; catch.
noun
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a sudden, quick grasp or snatch.
to make a grab at something.
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seizure or acquisition by violent or unscrupulous means.
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something that is grabbed.
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a mechanical device for gripping objects.
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the capacity to hold or adhere.
The glue was so old it had lost its grab.
idioms
noun
verb
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to seize hold of (something)
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(tr) to seize illegally or unscrupulously
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(tr) to arrest; catch
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(intr) (of a brake or clutch in a vehicle) to grip and release intermittently causing juddering
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informal (tr) to catch the attention or interest of; impress
noun
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the act or an instance of grabbing
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a mechanical device for gripping objects, esp the hinged jaws of a mechanical excavator
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something that is grabbed
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informal available to be bought, claimed, or won
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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grabsimple
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grabssimple
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have grabbedperfect
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has grabbedperfect
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am grabbingprogressive
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are grabbingprogressive
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is grabbingprogressive
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have been grabbingperfect progressive
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has been grabbingperfect progressive
Past
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grabbedsimple
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had grabbedperfect
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was grabbingprogressive
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were grabbingprogressive
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had been grabbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of grab1
First recorded in 1580–90; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German grabben, Swedish grabba
Origin of grab2
First recorded in 1670–80; from Arabic ghurāb literally, “raven”
Explanation
When you grab something, you clutch at it. When a party-goer breaks open a piñata, the other guests usually grab wildly at the candy that cascades out of it. You can grab for the string of a balloon as it floats away, or grab your friend in a hug. Another way to grab is to make an impression: "When I hear a marching band, it grabs my attention." A "grab bag" is a random mixture of things, or a bag of goodies you can reach into and grab from. If something's "up for grabs." it's available: "This last piece of pie is up for grabs!"
Vocabulary lists containing grab
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:
He said his dad had moved the lorry closer to where contractors were erecting a shed to tip the load when the grab arm hit the power line.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
"We hope that people who are in fields like atherosclerosis research read this, and want to grab the idea for themselves," Sam de Leve said.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026
The argument is that the variety packs of 120 mini Halloween candies run between $18 and $20 — but they don’t necessarily serve 100 kids, because trick-or-treaters tend to grab handfuls.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
On his first possession in the game, Vanderbilt repeatedly tipped a loose ball up in the air to keep it alive long enough for Austin Reaves to grab an offensive rebound.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
While everyone else walked toward the lunchroom with their partner, I hurried ahead to grab my lunch tray.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
The likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and many others are now stonewall selections but the intrigue is around the remaining few spots still seemingly up for grabs.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
You are more relaxed than you have ever been, and you have forgotten the way nearly every news story of the last decade grabs hold of your heart and squeezes, twists, strangles.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
But there is still AI market share up for grabs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
Whether it proves anything is, of course, up for grabs, but it surely helps “Chronovisor” remain wonderfully unclassifiable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
My legs are wobbly, and Dara grabs my hand to steady me.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Before the attendees grabbed their signs, which included standard yard signs as well as pink-shaded Spanish-language signs saying, “Mujeres Para Monica,” they could stand in a photo line for a picture with the congresswoman.
From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026
The Dream grabbed early momentum, going up two games to one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Here’s what’s grabbed my attention: Thursday’s tech takedown, and a market that’s increasingly splintering.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
Back on the broadcast, Nantz immediately winced and grabbed his hand.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
I leaped the final steps and grabbed Elliot’s hand and together we Glitched back to the moment before it all began.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
In downtown Detroit, people were grabbing lunch or making their way to Ford Field stadium for the Detroit Lions American football game when the news broke.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
Ultimately, the rushing attack killed the clock and clinched the win by grabbing one more touchdown on an 11-yarder by Junker with 40 seconds to play.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
But the truth is, the two men have a storied on-off relationship that seems to fluctuate based on who’s grabbing the check.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
When the knife fell flat across the basket, the robot’s hands had difficulty grabbing the thin piece of metal.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Thank you, Troppo Tourists!” said Nim, grabbing the paper as Galileo snatched the fish cap from her hand.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
