nab

[ nab ]

/ næb /

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.

Nearby words

Origin of nab

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

Related formsnab·ber, noun

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

Examples from the Web for nabbed

And yet, she nabbed a Best Supporting Actress nomination over the one and only Oprah.
15 Golden Globe Snubs and Surprises: No Oprah, No Jon Hamm, and More|Kevin Fallon, Marlow Stern|December 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
According to the Los Angeles Times, he was nabbed by store security after they saw him place a pair of headphones down his pants.
The Venice Beach Menace’s Troubled Past|Christine Pelisek, Barbie Latza Nadeau|August 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
His was one of 11 nominations for Homeland, which also nabbed a supporting actress nod for Morena Baccarin.
Emmy Nomination Surprises and Snubs: ‘House of Cards,’ ‘Orphan Black,’ and More|Jason Lynch|July 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
[Style.com] Kate Upton's New Vogue Cred: Kate Upton has nabbed another Vogue cover.
Kim Kardashian Finally Gets Noticed By Vogue; Rick Owens's Eurovision Performance|The Fashion Beast Team|June 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Red Sox centerfield Johnny Pesky nabbed the relay, double-clutched the ball, and threw late to the plate.
The Idiot’s Guide to Writing a Baseball Book|Luke Epplin|May 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It seems he owned up to the whole business when they first nabbed him, and the only thing he can do now is to plead guilty.
An Amateur Fireman|James Otis
"I came near gettin' nabbed; that's what's the matter," said Martin.
Rufus and Rose|Horatio Alger, Jr
But he nabbed that paper with a weak hand as soon as her back was turned and read the date!
The City of Fire|Grace Livingston Hill
It made me think of some fellows I know that were nabbed last night for breaking windows.
The Radio Boys Trailing a Voice|Allen Chapman
I'll bet you anything you like, on the basis of two to one, that I don't get nabbed while we are on this lay.
A Woman at Bay|Nicholas Carter

British Dictionary definitions for nabbed

nab

/ (næb) /

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 nabbed

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