nab

¹

[nab]

verb (used with object)

Informal.

nabbed, nabbing 

1. to arrest or capture.

2. to catch or seize, especially suddenly.

3. to snatch or steal.

NAB

²

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

2. New American Bible.

nab

/ næb /

verb

1. to arrest

2. to catch (someone) in wrongdoing

3. to seize suddenly; snatch

Other Word Forms

• nabber noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nab¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nab¹

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

Example Sentences

The El Salvador native narrowly had escaped when three coworkers were nabbed this summer during a raid at a car wash in Orange County.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The politics are there in the armored vehicles rolling down city streets and the masked militias out to nab Ben for the bounty money.

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Bovino said it was necessary to stop transnational gangs, but he nabbed no one.

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Clipse, the duo of Pusha T and his brother Malice, reunited to release “Let God Sort Em Out,” their first album in more than 15 years, and nabbed five nominations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A reasoned attempt to even things out in response to Texas’ attempt to nab five more congressional seats.

Read more on Los Angeles Times