nab

[nab]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nab ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), nabbed, nab·bing. Informal.

to arrest or capture.

to catch or seize, especially suddenly.

to snatch or steal.

Origin of nab

1675–85; earlier nap; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Danish nappe, Norwegian, Swedish nappa to snatch

Related formsnab·ber, noun

NAB

Also N.A.B. National Association of Broadcasters.

New American Bible.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nab

Contemporary Examples of nab

It took British authorities years to nab Altaf Hussain, the infamous Pakistani cult/party leader.
Altaf Hussain Finally Arrested in London; Can His MQM Be Neutralized?
Bruce Riedel
June 3, 2014
This is not the first time the site has been willing to dole out big bucks to nab public figures.
YouPorn’s French Publicity Stunt
Gideon Resnick
February 21, 2014
I know how hard it is to even try and nab Bill for an interview—going through his lawyer, etc.—so how did you corral him?
Sofia Coppola Discusses ‘Lost in Translation’ on Its 10th Anniversary
Marlow Stern
September 12, 2013
There were plenty of armed and uniformed posse members helping out or looking for unauthorized immigrants to nab.
Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Send Armed Posses to Protect Schools
Terry Greene Sterling
January 9, 2013
Police hope to catch the attacker by using the same science that allowed them to nab the suspected ‘Grim Sleeper’ serial killer.
Hunt for L.A.’s ‘Teardrop Rapist’ May Hinge on Familial DNA Testing
Christine Pelisek
June 30, 2012

Historical Examples of nab

At all events, I don't mean to let the 'coppers' nab me this time.
The Fat and the Thin
Emile Zola
Oh, I do hope that the constables get here in time to nab Mr. Fits.
The Grammar School Boys Snowbound
H. Irving Hancock
We'll probably beat you to Skiddyunk, but if we don't, nab 'em if they get on.
Roy Blakeley's Camp on Wheels
Percy Keese Fitzhugh
So, all I had to do was to wait and nab 'em when they came ashore.
Cabbages and Kings
O. Henry
We've got to find where that is and get the secret service men there in time to nab them.
The Secret Wireless
Lewis E. Theiss

British Dictionary definitions for nab

nab

verb nabs, nabbing or nabbed (tr) informal

to arrest

to catch (someone) in wrongdoing

to seize suddenly; snatch

Word Origin for nab

C17: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish nappe, Swedish nappa to snatch. See kidnap

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

Word Origin and History for nab

"to catch (someone)," 1680s, probably a variant of dialectal nap "to seize, catch, lay hold of" (1670s, now surviving only in kidnap), which possibly is from Scandinavian (cf. Norwegian nappe, Swedish nappa "to catch, snatch;" Danish nappe "to pinch, pull"); reinforced by Middle English napand "grasping, greedy." Related: Nabbed; nabbing.

nab