grip
noun
the act of grasping; a seizing and holding fast; firm grasp.
had gripped
-
past perfectof grip.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
In December 1996, with the boom barely underway, Greenspan wondered aloud whether “irrational exuberance” had gripped asset prices.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
Iran's prosecutor general said on Wednesday that economic protests that had gripped the country were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response".
From Barron's ● Dec. 31, 2025
The case had gripped the country and remains one of New Zealand's most enduring mysteries.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2025
But Watson eventually lost his 1892 campaign, and the populist movement that had gripped the country disintegrated within a few years.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2024
An economic crisis, the Panic of 1857, had gripped the United States and the world.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
