stab
verb (used with object)
to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
stab
1 American
[stab]
/ stæb /
verb (used with object)
-
stabs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
stabbed,
past participle, past
-
stabbing
present participle
-
to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork.
-
to thrust, plunge, or jab (a knife, pointed weapon, or the like) into something.
He stabbed the knife into the man's chest.
-
to penetrate sharply or painfully.
Their misery stabbed his conscience.
-
to make a piercing, thrusting, or pointing motion at or in.
He stabbed me in the chest with his finger.
The speaker stabbed the air in anger.
verb (used without object)
-
stabs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
stabbed,
past participle, past
-
stabbing
present participle
-
to thrust with or as if with a knife or other pointed weapon.
to stab at an attacker.
-
to deliver a wound, as with a pointed weapon.
noun
-
stabs
plural
idioms
-
stab (someone) in the back, to do harm to (someone), especially to a friend or to a person who is unsuspecting or in a defenseless position.
-
a stab in the back, an act of treachery.
stab.
2
American
abbreviation
-
stabilization.
-
stabilizer.
-
stable.
stab
British
/ stæb /
verb
-
(tr) to pierce or injure with a sharp pointed instrument
-
(tr) (of a sharp pointed instrument) to pierce or wound
the knife stabbed her hand
-
to make a thrust (at); jab
he stabbed at the doorway
-
(tr) to inflict with a sharp pain
-
-
(verb) to do damage to the reputation of (a person, esp a friend) in a surreptitious way
-
(noun) a treacherous action or remark that causes the downfall of or injury to a person
-
noun
-
the act or an instance of stabbing
-
an injury or rift made by stabbing
-
a sudden sensation, esp an unpleasant one
a stab of pity
-
informal an attempt (esp in the phrase make a stab at )
stab
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
stabsimple
-
stabssimple
-
have stabbedperfect
-
has stabbedperfect
-
am stabbingprogressive
-
are stabbingprogressive
-
is stabbingprogressive
-
have been stabbingperfect progressive
-
has been stabbingperfect progressive
Past
-
stabbedsimple
-
had stabbedperfect
-
was stabbingprogressive
-
were stabbingprogressive
-
had been stabbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of stab
First recorded in 1435–45 for the noun, and in 1525–35 for the verb; Middle English ( Scots ) noun stab, stabbe, stappe, of uncertain origin; compare Scots stob “needle, large needle”; verb from the noun
Explanation
To stab is to thrust or jab something sharp, the way you stab your sandwich with a toothpick or the way Brutus (and others) stab Julius Caesar in Shakespeare's play. You can stab at the soil in your garden with a trowel or stab the steak on your plate with a fork. You might then experience a stab (or sharp feeling) of regret, wondering if you should become a vegetarian. When you "take a stab at something," you attempt it: "I decided to take a stab at opera singing." Stab comes from the Scottish stob, "to pierce."
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:
Jair Bolsonaro is serving his sentence under house arrest for health reasons stemming from a stab wound he suffered in 2018 during the campaign in which he was elected president.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
After a stab at acting, Mr. David found a home in New York’s comedy clubs, where his quirky vignettes earned the admiration of his peers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
His police badge and stab vest were found scattered along the route.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
In “Disclosure Day,” he takes another stab at demonstrating that there is no limit to the universe’s wonders.
From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026
A distinct stab of jealousy pricked against Ekon’s skin.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
"Let me hazard a wild stab. One is for Robb Stark, the others for Lords Stannis and Renly. Would that be right?"
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
“That is more difficult. The English, they do not stab. You are right there. I incline to the view that someone else dropped the pipe cleaner—and did so to incriminate the long-legged Englishman.”
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
Moreover, the occasional stabs at quotable mom-power dialogue feel patronizing, not that the audience for ultraviolent action pictures typically includes a lot of moms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
A game of energetic ping-pong unfolded underneath the gallery’s fluorescent light, beams of identification, recollections or stabs of grief bouncing off each piece in the exhibition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
Romeo, 23, tried to follow his father into football and modelling, while Brooklyn, 26, has had stabs at careers in photography and cooking.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
Certainly he and his team have given it their all; the time they’ve put in and their stabs at various compromises have been impressive.
From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2024
All he knows is her grandma whimpers feel like stabs straight to the heart—and as much as he hates himself for it, Scoob starts to feel mad at her.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
She said the pain felt like she was being stabbed in the stomach - pain that has now been relieved thanks to surgery.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Smit Machchhar was hailed for his heroism after being stabbed on Flight 1073.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Who is the 'hero' Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel-bound flight?
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
On his June 2026 song “We Know the Truth,” he rejected allegations connecting him to the killing and said he learned after arriving to perform at the festival that someone had been stabbed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
“He licked some off that stick I stabbed the dragon with.”
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said Samir Zitouni showed "sheer courage and bravery in seeking to save lives and defend others", during the mass stabbing on the Doncaster to London King's Cross train.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
In June, Musk again weighed heavily into British politics following the stabbing death of an 18-year-old white student named Henry Nowak.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Those faulty messages can produce shooting, stabbing or burning sensations.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
The New York Police Department said it would not increase security specifically at Penn Station because of Sunday's stabbing.
From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026
“Please,” Horace moaned, “enough talk of smashing loops and stabbing hearts. You’ll frighten the little ones!”
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
