snatch
Americanverb (used without object)
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snatches,
present (3rd person singular)
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snatched,
past participle, past
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snatching
present participle
verb (used with object)
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snatches,
present (3rd person singular)
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snatched,
past participle, past
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snatching
present participle
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to seize by a sudden or hasty grasp.
He snatched the old lady's purse and ran.
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to take, get, secure, etc., suddenly or hastily.
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to rescue or save by prompt action.
He snatched the baby from the fire.
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Slang. to kidnap.
noun
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snatches
plural
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the act or an instance of snatching.
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a sudden motion to seize something; grab.
He made a snatch as if to stop her.
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a bit, scrap, or fragment of something.
snatches of conversation.
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a brief spell of effort, activity, or any experience.
to work in snatches.
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Nautical. a sheave or projecting member serving as a fairlead.
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a brief period of time.
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Slang. an act of kidnapping.
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Slang: Vulgar. vulva; vagina.
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Weightlifting. a lift in which the barbell is brought in a single motion from the floor to an arms-extended position overhead.
verb
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(tr) to seize or grasp (something) suddenly or peremptorily
he snatched the chocolate out of my hand
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to seize or attempt to seize suddenly
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(tr) to take hurriedly
to snatch some sleep
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(tr) to remove suddenly
she snatched her hand away
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(tr) to gain, win, or rescue, esp narrowly
they snatched victory in the closing seconds
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(tr) (in weightlifting) to lift (a weight) with a snatch
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informal to leave a job, taking whatever pay is due
noun
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an act of snatching
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a fragment or small incomplete part
snatches of conversation
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a brief spell
snatches of time off
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weightlifting a lift in which the weight is raised in one quick motion from the floor to an overhead position
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slang an act of kidnapping
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slang a robbery
a diamond snatch
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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snatchernoun
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outsnatchverb (used with object)
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snatchableadjective
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unsnatchedadjective
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snatchinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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snatchsimple
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snatchessimple
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have snatchedperfect
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has snatchedperfect
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am snatchingprogressive
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are snatchingprogressive
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is snatchingprogressive
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have been snatchingperfect progressive
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has been snatchingperfect progressive
Past
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snatchedsimple
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had snatchedperfect
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was snatchingprogressive
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were snatchingprogressive
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had been snatchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of snatch
1175–1225; Middle English snacche (noun), snacchen (v.) < ?; cognate with Middle Dutch snacken
Explanation
When you snatch something, you grab it — either literally or figuratively. You might eagerly snatch the TV remote or your best friend's idea. Snatching can be nasty. You might snatch a lost balloon before it gets away, or snatch your cat before he can escape the room. The verb snatch can also be used in a figurative way, like when you snatch the first job offer that comes your way after graduating from college. The origin is most likely the Middle English word snacche, which means "to suddenly snap at," or in its noun form, "a trap."
Vocabulary lists containing snatch
"Thank You, M'am"
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Similes from Top AP English Exam Novels
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Because of Winn-Dixie
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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.
See Examples For:
With the light fading on the Bernardus course in the Netherlands, Jennifer Kupcho holed a nerve-shredding putt from the edge of the 18th green to snatch a point and leave the teams tied at 8-8.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
They snatch backpacks, swipe shoes and nibble on trekking poles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Having a bird swoop down to snatch food from your hand is one of the most intimate interactions we can have with wildlife.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
The two Billys almost snatch the movie from under its lead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
It might be another trap, a new torment that promised him freedom only to snatch it away, but even so, Taran decided, they could be no worse off.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
He’s a witty and adventurous guide, wandering into side spurs of history, biography and travelogue, exploring snatches of verse along the way.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
They included bricks that would play snatches of the iconic theme song and emit coin-collecting sound effects as Mario characters moved around.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Cinematographer Tim Ives snatches his rare opportunities to shoot the beautiful scenery, but most of the pair’s encounters take place in or near Ledger’s orange pickup truck, a totem from the book.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026
"It's Olympic lifts we're doing - clean and jerk, snatches, squats, the lot," says Hammy McMillan, who's gold medal-tipped men's rink start their campaign on Wednesday.
From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026
Once the last bite is gone, he grins at me, snatches up his schoolbag, and takes off.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Sharpton says some legal residents he encountered around Cleveland feared being "snatched up and deported."
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Whether there is a physical change - or any need for one - is debatable, but fans of the massages claim they help "flatten" and "debloat" and give a "snatched waist" and "sculpted abs".
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Not only is Big Ant afraid he doesn’t measure up to the boy’s fantasies; he’s scared that his son will copy his mistakes and get snatched by the system.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
But Pete has always been haunted by a case that was never quite resolved, and when Jake gets snatched up there’s no question he’ll seek out Frank in prison and ask him what he knows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Zheng snatched up the box but it was too late.
From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook
Unlike last week, they came up clutch as Zoe Harrison redeemed herself for a late penalty miss by snatching victory with an intercept try in the final play.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
Worse than that, coming in the wake of Operations Epic Fury and Midnight Hammer, have we ever seen a better example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The officer invoked this exception against Lau, snatching his green card and “paroling” him into the country.
From Slate ● Jun. 23, 2026
Anthropic, in particular, has been making high-profile hires, often snatching talent directly from the application-software companies that it’s disrupting.
From MarketWatch ● May 9, 2026
He will talk quickly and eagerly about nothing at all, snatching at any subject as a panacea to pain.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
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.
