nab

¹ American

[nab] / næb /

verb (used with object)

Informal.

nabbed, nabbing

to arrest or capture.
to catch or seize, especially suddenly.
to snatch or steal.

NAB ² American

Also N.A.B. National Association of Broadcasters.
New American Bible.

nab British

/ næb /

verb

to arrest
to catch (someone) in wrongdoing
to seize suddenly; snatch

"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

Other Word Forms

nabber noun

Etymology

Origin of nab

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

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.

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

Allegiant shined in three categories to nab second place.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Jan. 15, 2026

And though it would take me four more years, eventually I’d nab the solo.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

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