grip

American  

[grip] / grɪp /

noun

1. the act of grasping; a seizing and holding fast; firm grasp.

2. the power of gripping.

   He has a strong grip.

3. a grasp, hold, or control.

4. mental or intellectual hold.

   to have a good grip on a problem.

5. competence or firmness in dealing with situations in one's work or personal affairs.

   The boss is old and is losing his grip.

6. a special mode of clasping hands.

   Members of the club use the secret grip.

7. something that seizes and holds, as a clutching device on a cable car.

8. a handle or hilt.

   That knife has a very unusual grip.

9. a sudden, sharp pain; spasm of pain.

10. grippe.

11. Older Use. a small traveling bag.

12. 1. Theater. a stagehand, especially one who works on the stage floor.

    2. Movies, Television. a general assistant available on a film set for shifting scenery, moving furniture, etc.

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verb (used with object)

gripped, gript, gripping

1. to grasp or seize firmly; hold fast.

   We gripped the sides of the boat as the waves tossed us about.

2. to take hold on; hold the interest of.

   to grip the mind.

   Synonyms:

   fascinate, hold, rivet, attract, impress

3. to attach by a grip or clutch.

verb (used without object)

gripped, gript, gripping

1. to take firm hold; hold fast.

2. to take hold on the mind.

idioms

1. come to grips with,

   1. to encounter; meet; cope with.

      She had never come to grips with such a situation before.

   2. to deal with directly or firmly.

      We didn't come to grips with the real problem.

grip ¹ British  

/ ɡrɪp /

noun

1. the act or an instance of grasping and holding firmly

   he lost his grip on the slope

2. Also called: handgrip.  the strength or pressure of such a grasp, as in a handshake

   a feeble grip

3. the style or manner of grasping an object, such as a tennis racket

4. understanding, control, or mastery of a subject, problem, etc (esp in such phrases as get or have a grip on )

5. Also called: handgrip.  a part by which an object is grasped; handle

6. Also called: handgrip.  a travelling bag or holdall

7. See hairgrip

8. any device that holds by friction, such as certain types of brake

9. a method of clasping or shaking hands used by members of secret societies to greet or identify one another

10. a spasm of pain

    a grip in one's stomach

11. a worker in a camera crew or a stagehand who shifts sets and props, etc

12. a small drainage channel cut above an excavation to conduct surface water away from the excavation

13. (often foll by with)

    1. to deal with (a problem or subject)

    2. to tackle (an assailant)

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verb

1. to take hold of firmly or tightly, as by a clutch

2. to hold the interest or attention of

   to grip an audience

grip ² British  

/ ɡrɪp /

noun

1. med a variant spelling of grippe

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grip More Idioms  

1. see come to grips with; get a grip on; lose one's grip.

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Other Word Forms

• gripless adjective
• gripper noun
• grippingly adverb
• regrip verb
• ungrip verb

Etymology

Origin of grip

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English gripe “grasp” (noun); cognate with German Griff, Old English gripa “handful”; gripe

Example Sentences

“The Handmaid’s Tale,” once a defining show of the late 2010s, continued after extended pauses but struggled to maintain the cultural grip it once held.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Silverware, the first since an FA Cup in his first year, will serve to tighten that grip.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

In a little over a year as the department’s second in command, Blanche, 51, has helped Trump tighten his grip on the agency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Parents of teenagers demanding driving lessons will quickly reacquaint themselves with what some car manufacturers call the passenger-side assist grip.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

After a few seconds, Mr. Stanley’s grip on my head eases up.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Related Words

• control
• domination
• grasp
• influence