grasp
Americanverb (used with object)
-
grasps,
present (3rd person singular)
-
grasped,
past participle, past
-
grasping
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
grasps,
present (3rd person singular)
-
grasped,
past participle, past
-
grasping
present participle
noun
-
grasps
plural
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- clutches
-
mental hold or capacity; power to understand.
- Synonyms:
- comprehension, apprehension, understanding
-
broad or thorough comprehension.
a good grasp of computer programming.
verb
-
to grip (something) firmly with or as if with the hands
-
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
Synonym Usage
See catch. 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 Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
graspernoun
-
regraspverb (used with object)
-
graspableadjective
-
grasplessadjective
-
ungraspableadjective
-
ungraspedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
graspsimple
-
graspssimple
-
have graspedperfect
-
has graspedperfect
-
am graspingprogressive
-
are graspingprogressive
-
is graspingprogressive
-
have been graspingperfect progressive
-
has been graspingperfect progressive
Past
-
graspedsimple
-
had graspedperfect
-
was graspingprogressive
-
were graspingprogressive
-
had been graspingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of grasp
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English graspen, grapsen; cognate with Low German grapsen; akin to Old English gegræppian “to seize” ( see grapple)
Explanation
To grasp is to get a hold of something, literally or figuratively. Grasp the grammar textbook with both hands and then read it to grasp the rules of the English language. It makes sense that the word grasp means understanding a concept since you are "getting a hold of an idea" just as you would grasp something tangible to hold. Grasp is good for when you're talking about comprehending the scale of something, or the full picture of a multi-faceted problem or idea. You might know that there is going to be a heat wave, but you may not grasp the idea of its relationship to global warming.
Vocabulary lists containing grasp
"Mending Wall," by Robert Frost
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Beowulf vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Excerpt from "The Diary of Anne Frank"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
There was a comedy of errors at the end of the Washington Commanders' 27-27 tie with the New York Giants as both teams fluffed their lines with victory within their grasp.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Nor do we have a grasp of its prevalence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
"The project is so massive that it's basically hard to really grasp, even though we're right here on the sidelines," Pitkanen said, as a few cows dozed in a meadow in front of the barn.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
Studies show young brains have high plasticity that makes it easier for children to grasp new languages naturally.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
By the time I reached the other building, my legs were quivering so violently, I had to grasp hold of the ledge to steady myself.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Although she grasps the issues that can arise with the product, she says, most of her life is pretty well documented anyway.
From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2026
Beijing grasps what many American policymakers miss: Alignment research accelerates AI capabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025
She also grasps that comedy reigns on the Internet.
From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2025
But already, with this first move, Moscow has shown that it grasps the depth of local frustrations.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2025
Helene has a hand clapped over her mouth, her eyes comically wide as she grasps for words.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
The secretary may have gone to Princeton University, but he hasn’t yet grasped the concept of irony.
From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026
One influential figure predicts an array of grim economic consequences, unconvinced that Burnham and his team have grasped what might be coming down the track and planned accordingly.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
Tom gets his travel piece and his tourists, but he also learns that attempting to remain “reasonable” can be its own form of delusion, an indication that you haven’t grasped the gravity of the situation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
The road to recovery is long, and some patients "still haven't really grasped the magnitude of what happened to them," Bianca Damaso, a physician specializing in prosthetics, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
He grasped the caribou whip with only his thumb and sent it singing along the backs of our seven sled dogs.
From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell
As children, we sense the edges of these silences without fully grasping them.
From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2026
The Emmy Award-winning HBO comedy “Hacks” debuted nearly a decade after “Girls,” and it was still centered around a struggling creative grasping for whatever work she could find.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
Or "who is your team at the Cup?" without grasping it's the World Cup.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
One reason for the fascination with Musk’s status as a “trillionaire” may be the very human difficulty of grasping such a big number.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
He swings back around and throws his arms around Mom’s neck, grasping her in a tight hug as she laughs and embraces him back.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
