nab

¹ American  

[nab] / næb /

verb (used with object)

Informal.

nabbed, nabbing

1. to arrest or capture.

2. to catch or seize, especially suddenly.

3. to snatch or steal.

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NAB ² American  

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

2. New American Bible.

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nab British  

/ næb /

verb

1. to arrest

2. to catch (someone) in wrongdoing

3. to seize suddenly; snatch

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Other Word Forms

• nabber noun

Etymology

Origin of nab

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

Explanation

When you nab someone, you catch the person in the act of doing something wrong. A police officer, for example, might say that she loves to nab shoplifters. You nab when you apprehend a bad guy, or when you suddenly grab something: "Hey, you can't just nab a slice of pizza off my plate!" It's most common to use nab when a criminal is caught, as when the FBI nabs a suspected terrorist or an officer nabs a would-be graffiti artist. Nab probably came from an earlier word, nap, "to seize or catch," which is now obsolete except in the word kidnap.

Example Sentences

Her constituents think it's her seat, but she admits: "It's only my seat because I'm there early enough to nab it."

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

Department of Transportation has deployed such cameras to nab motorists who park in bus lanes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

Join membership clubs to nab the best hotel or group tour deal.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 15, 2026

Anta’s longstanding relationships with landlords helped Arc’teryx nab prime real estate for its shops.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025

“We nab Mrs. Malvolio, she’ll give up the others.”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein