grab
1to take illegal possession of; seize forcibly or unscrupulously: to grab land.
to obtain and consume quickly: Let's grab a sandwich before going to the movie.
Slang.
to cause a reaction in; affect: How does my idea grab you?
to arouse the interest or excitement of: The book was O.K., but it just didn't grab me.
to make a grasping or clutching motion (usually followed by at): He grabbed frantically at the life preserver.
(of brakes, a clutch, etc.) to take hold suddenly or with a jolting motion; catch.
a sudden, quick grasp or snatch: to make a grab at something.
seizure or acquisition by violent or unscrupulous means.
something that is grabbed.
a mechanical device for gripping objects.
the capacity to hold or adhere: The glue was so old it had lost its grab.
Idioms about grab
up for grabs, Informal. available to anyone willing to expend the energy to get it: The Republican nomination for mayor was up for grabs.
Origin of grab
1Other words for grab
Other words from grab
- grab·ba·ble, adjective
- un·grab·bing, adjective
Other definitions for grab (2 of 2)
a ship having two or three masts with a square rig, common on the Malabar Coast in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Origin of grab
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use grab in a sentence
Cicilline’s review ultimately unearthed a trove of emails from Zuckerberg and his lieutenants apparently plotting against competitors, a series of discussions in which they reference making a “land grab” targeting rival apps.
State, federal antitrust lawsuits likely to challenge Facebook for buying rivals and weaponizing data | Tony Romm | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostThe nice thing about it is … the division is still up for grabs.
Washington loses Kyle Allen to injury, and Alex Smith’s comeback bid vs. Giants falls short | Nicki Jhabvala | November 8, 2020 | Washington PostHe threw a pass up for grabs and the ball went directly to Packers safety Raven Greene.
Ravaged by injuries and coronavirus issues, the 49ers had little chance against the Packers | Mark Maske | November 6, 2020 | Washington PostThe state’s up-for-grabs Senate seat goes to Democrat Barbara Bollier.
Here’s who the power rankers think are going to win — everything | The Ranking Committee | October 30, 2020 | Washington PostOnly 16 percent of Hmong Americans reported contact by a political party in 2016, and according to sociologist Yang Sao Xiong, the Hmong American vote is “up for grabs” in 2020.
The history of Hmong Americans explains why they might decide the election | Melissa Borja | October 29, 2020 | Washington Post
In an act of corporal punishment that we at the Daily Beast do not condone, Joseph grabbed Him by the ear and “pulled hard.”
The victim, whom The Daily Beast is not naming, asked what Williams wanted and the pastor allegedly “reached in and grabbed him.”
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault | M.L. Nestel | December 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI was bored, but I grabbed a red Solo cup, filled it with beer, and stayed with my group, chatting with the brothers about Jim.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything | Liz Seccuro | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe was slapped, grabbed in the face, placed in stress positions, placed in standing sleep deprivation, and doused with water.
He died in July after being grabbed around the throat by a cop and wrestled to ground where the breath flew out of him.
The Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric Garner | Mike Barnicle | December 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe wasted no time on questions, just grabbed his friends and disappeared before the crowd came out.
Fee of the Frontier | Horace Brown FyfeShe made so much noise that Lance grabbed at her and tried to put her out of the room, Topsy still barking furiously.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage | Gertrude W. MorrisonI grabbed hold of the vise-locking screw to keep my knees from doubling under me.
Nine Men in Time | Noel Miller LoomisBefore he could do anything with it, Clip grabbed it out of his hand, leveled it after the receding form, and pulled the trigger.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run | Stanley R. MatthewsBut he had no time for sentiment; he grabbed the reef-earring with his left hand, and clutched at the man with his right.
The Chequers | James Runciman
British Dictionary definitions for grab
/ (ɡræb) /
to seize hold of (something)
(tr) to seize illegally or unscrupulously
(tr) to arrest; catch
(intr) (of a brake or clutch in a vehicle) to grip and release intermittently causing juddering
(tr) informal to catch the attention or interest of; impress
the act or an instance of grabbing
a mechanical device for gripping objects, esp the hinged jaws of a mechanical excavator
something that is grabbed
up for grabs informal available to be bought, claimed, or won
Origin of grab
1Derived forms of grab
- grabber, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with grab
In addition to the idiom beginning with grab
- grab bag
also see:
- how does that grab you
- up for grabs
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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