gripping

American

[grip-ing] / ˈgrɪp ɪŋ /

adjective

holding the attention or interest intensely; fascinating; enthralling.

a gripping play; a gripping book.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of gripping

First recorded in 1620–30; grip + -ing ²

Vocabulary lists containing gripping

12 More Interesting Ways to Say "interesting"

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Spelling Practice 1, Unit 1

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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.

Gripping the bar, he’d effortlessly curl whichever weight I’d used, doing at least 20 repetitions.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2023

Gripping that special bat, Rodriguez smiled and said, “Alright, you’re on.”

From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2022

Gripping a Taco Bell Drag Brunch-branded folding fan, she declared her first drag show “breathtaking.”

From New York Times • May 27, 2022

Gripping the wheel, it took all my strength and determination to keep from careening off the road.

From Washington Post • Aug. 13, 2021

Gripping her purse, she hurried down Hastings as though she knew where she was going.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023