nab

[ nab ]

See 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.

Origin of nab

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

Other words from nab

nabber, noun

Other definitions for NAB (2 of 2)

NAB

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nab in a sentence

So say the Secret Service nabs him on the lawn, in plain sight of tourists with cameras.
Obama, the Coffee Salute, and the Dementia on the Right | Sally Kohn | September 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But I think it will be Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine who nabs it.
2014 Oscar Predictions: Who Will and Who Should Be Nominated | Marlow Stern, Kevin Fallon | January 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Entertainment Weekly CBS Nabs Comedy Produced By Ben Affleck Matt Damon.
‘Glee’ Ratings Surge With Cory Monteith Tribute; Taylor Swift Still Searching For ‘Great Love’ | Culture Team | October 11, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Then, Jack Bauer, my Hero, nabs the culprit entirely on his own, just as our Founding Fathers hoped.
All Those Times Square Heroes | Leslie H. Gelb | May 8, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Won't it be a good joke when McGibony nabs him and finds the money on his person?
The Expressman and the Detective | Allan Pinkerton

They will be in for a sudden disappearance unless the marshal nabs them soon.
Bound to Succeed | Allen Chapman
And jest when I was thinking that, a feller comes down the front steps of that house on the jump and nabs me by the coat collar.
Danny's Own Story | Don Marquis
Next time you nabs me writin' a form sheet on any unknown, you can hang out the waste paper sign and send me to the scows.
Torchy | Sewell Ford
"Ey'n spill t' last drop o' meh blood i' t' owd abbut's keawse," replied Hal o' Nabs.
The Lancashire Witches | William Harrison Ainsworth

British Dictionary definitions for nab

nab

/ (næb) /

verbnabs, nabbing or nabbed (tr) informal

to arrest
to catch (someone) in wrongdoing

to seize suddenly; snatch

Origin of 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

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