nab
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to arrest or capture.
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to catch or seize, especially suddenly.
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to snatch or steal.
verb
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to arrest
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to catch (someone) in wrongdoing
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to seize suddenly; snatch
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.
In L.A., the company said, its technology had been deployed to nab porch pirates and car thieves, not to mention played a role in solving a “high-profile crime involving stolen weapons from a politician’s home.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026
The undercover officers donned masks depicting Captain America, Batman and Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th, among others, to nab a pair in the act, Brazil's Civil Police said.
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026
Join membership clubs to nab the best hotel or group tour deal.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 15, 2026
Amazon Web Services on Tuesday unveiled a host of new artificial intelligence tools and features designed to help companies nab more value from generative AI.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025
“I knew they’d nab us one day!” said Dozer.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
