grasp

[ grasp, grahsp ]

/ græsp, grɑsp /

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See synonyms for: grasp / grasped / grasping / graspable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to seize and hold by or as if by clasping with the fingers or arms.

to seize upon; hold firmly.

to get hold of mentally; comprehend; understand: I don't grasp your meaning.

verb (used without object)

to make an attempt to seize, or a motion of seizing, something (usually followed by at or for): a drowning man grasping at straws; to grasp for an enemy's rifle.

noun

the act of grasping or gripping, as with the hands or arms: to make a grasp at something.

a hold or grip: to have a firm grasp of a rope.

one's arms or hands, in embracing or gripping: He took her in his grasp.

one's power of seizing and holding; reach: to have a thing within one's grasp.

hold, possession, or mastery: to wrest power from the grasp of a usurper.

mental hold or capacity; power to understand.

broad or thorough comprehension: a good grasp of computer programming.

OTHER WORDS FOR grasp

1 grip, clutch; grab.

9 clutches.

10 understanding, apprehension, comprehension.

See synonyms for grasp on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR grasp

1 release.

See antonyms for grasp on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of grasp

1350–1400; Middle English graspen, grapsen; cognate with Low German grapsen; akin to Old English gegræppian to seize (see grapple)

synonym study for grasp

1. See catch. 10. Grasp, reach refer to the power of seizing, either concretely or figuratively. Grasp suggests actually seizing and closing the hand upon something (or, figuratively, thoroughly comprehending something) and therefore refers to what is within one's possession or immediate possibility of possession: a good grasp of a problem; immense mental grasp. Reach suggests a stretching out of (usually) the hand to touch, strike, or, if possible, seize something; it therefore refers to a potentiality of possession that requires an effort. Figuratively, it implies perhaps a faint conception of something still too far beyond one to be definitely and clearly understood.

OTHER WORDS FROM grasp

grasp·a·ble, adjectivegrasper, noungraspless, adjectivere·grasp, verb (used with object)

un·grasp·a·ble, adjectiveun·grasped, adjective

Words nearby grasp

grappling iron, graptolite, grapy, GRAS, Grasmere, grasp, grasp at straws, grasp (clutch) at straws, grasping, grass, grass box

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use grasp in a sentence

They have locked down pathways to that power to limit the likelihood that it will move out of their grasp.
What happens to an entrenched two-party system when one party undermines the system?|Philip Bump|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
If you suffer from gaming sickness, there’s unfortunately no scientific evidence you’ll ever free yourself from its grasp.
Video games can cause motion sickness—here’s how to fight it|Sandra Gutierrez G.|February 2, 2021|Popular-Science
Still, the Hong Kong group wanted more data to get a better grasp of the situation.
The Hard Lessons of Modeling the Coronavirus Pandemic|Jordana Cepelewicz|January 28, 2021|Quanta Magazine
Things to consider when buying an external hard driveBefore you make an effort to purchase an external drive, it helps if you have a firm grasp not only on what you need to store but how much of it you have and how accessible it needs to be.
The best external hard drives: Expand your file storage|Eric Alt|January 22, 2021|Popular-Science

In many instances, there is neither a shared set of truths nor a solid-enough grasp of history, even among those with the greatest power.
A Simple, Bold Idea: Reset America|Carlos Watson|January 18, 2021|Ozy
And the more she is forced to recount, the more her grasp of reality slips, or heightens, depending on your point of view.
A Novel Nearly Impossible to Review|Nicholas Mancusi|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The grasp on the sabre would tighten; the quiet eyes would flash.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor|S. C. Gwynne|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It also seemed that Biden had a good grasp of the subtleties of Iraqi politics.
Exposed: The White House’s Professor-in-Chief|Jonathan Alter|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the problem with Virgin Galactic is that Branson has never had any real grasp of how serious the technical challenges are.
Tycoons in Space: One in Orbit and One Still Grounded|Clive Irving|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Just a few months ago my 3-year-old son, mid-tantrum, broke my grasp to run from me in a crowded subway station.
Why Adrian Peterson Changed My Mind on Spanking|Brandy Zadrozny|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Never grasp a Fern plant from above and try to pull it away, as this will be almost sure to result in damage.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
We suffer, nearly all of us, from a lack of quantitative grasp and from an imperfect grasp of form.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
This widening grasp of languages is or was within the capacity of nearly everyone born into the world—given the facilities.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Frulein Fichtner is more in the bravura than in the sentimental line, and she has a certain breadth, grasp, and freshness.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
His mind is characterized by the literalness, rather than the comprehensive grasp of great subjects.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

British Dictionary definitions for grasp

grasp

/ (ɡrɑːsp) /

verb

to grip (something) firmly with or as if with the hands

(when intr, often foll by at) to struggle, snatch, or grope (for)

(tr) to understand, esp with effort

noun

the act of grasping

a grip or clasp, as of a hand

the capacity to accomplish (esp in the phrase within one's grasp)

total rule or possession

understanding; comprehension

Derived forms of grasp

graspable, adjectivegrasper, noun

Word Origin for grasp

C14: from Low German grapsen; related to Old English græppian to seize, Old Norse grāpa to steal

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 grasp

grasp

In addition to the idiom beginning with grasp

grasp at straws

also see:

get a fix on (grasp of)

grasp

OTHER WORDS FOR grasp

OPPOSITES FOR grasp

Origin of grasp

synonym study for grasp

OTHER WORDS FROM grasp

Words nearby grasp

Words related to grasp

How to use grasp in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for grasp

Derived forms of grasp

Word Origin for grasp

Other Idioms and Phrases with grasp