grab

[ grab ]

/ græb /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR grab ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), grabbed, grab·bing.

to seize suddenly or quickly; snatch; clutch: He grabbed me by the collar.

to take illegal possession of; seize forcibly or unscrupulously: to grab land.

to obtain and consume quickly: Let's grab a sandwich before going to the movie.

Slang.

to cause a reaction in; affect: How does my idea grab you?
to arouse the interest or excitement of: The book was O.K., but it just didn't grab me.

verb (used without object), grabbed, grab·bing.

to make a grasping or clutching motion (usually followed by at): He grabbed frantically at the life preserver.

(of brakes, a clutch, etc.) to take hold suddenly or with a jolting motion; bind.

noun

a sudden, quick grasp or snatch: to make a grab at something.

seizure or acquisition by violent or unscrupulous means.

something that is grabbed.

a mechanical device for gripping objects.

the capacity to hold or adhere: The glue was so old it had lost its grab.

Idioms for grab

up for grabs, Informal. available to anyone willing to expend the energy to get it: The Republican nomination for mayor was up for grabs.

Origin of grab

1580–90; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German grabben, Swedish grabba

SYNONYMS FOR grab

1 grasp, grip, catch.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR grab ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM grab

grab·ba·ble, adjective un·grab·bing, adjective

Words nearby grab

gr., gr. br., gr. wt., gr8, graafian follicle, grab, grab bag, grab bar, grab rope, grabber, grabble

Example sentences from the Web for grabbed

In an act of corporal punishment that we at the Daily Beast do not condone, Joseph grabbed Him by the ear and “pulled hard.”

Was Baby Jesus A Holy Terror? |Candida Moss |December 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The victim, whom The Daily Beast is not naming, asked what Williams wanted and the pastor allegedly “reached in and grabbed him.”

Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault |M.L. Nestel |December 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I was bored, but I grabbed a red Solo cup, filled it with beer, and stayed with my group, chatting with the brothers about Jim.

I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything |Liz Seccuro |December 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He was slapped, grabbed in the face, placed in stress positions, placed in standing sleep deprivation, and doused with water.

Inside the CIA’s Sadistic Dungeon |Tim Mak |December 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Then they went to the corner opposite where I was and grabbed about four or five individuals and arrested them as well.

Dispatch From USC Protests over Ferguson |Maya Richard Craven |November 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The key-note to her character is in this novel she grabbed as she hastily packed her bag—‘The Madness of May.’

The Madness of May |Meredith Nicholson
He had grabbed up a club on the way, and as he spoke he advanced threateningly upon Sercomb and his friends.

Motor Matt's Clue |Stanley R. Matthews
Michael dashed into the group and grabbed a handful of caps which he tossed into the dusty complications of the Laocon.

Sinister Street, vol. 1 |Compton Mackenzie
I grabbed my axe, an' made up my mind to die fightin', anyway.

Bert Wilson in the Rockies |J. W. Duffield
Abby grabbed up her sunbonnet and ran skipping out of the kitchen.

McAllister and His Double |Arthur Train

British Dictionary definitions for grabbed

grab

/ (ɡræb) /

verb grabs, grabbing or grabbed

to seize hold of (something)

(tr) to seize illegally or unscrupulously

(tr) to arrest; catch

(intr) (of a brake or clutch in a vehicle) to grip and release intermittently causing juddering

(tr) informal to catch the attention or interest of; impress

noun

the act or an instance of grabbing

a mechanical device for gripping objects, esp the hinged jaws of a mechanical excavator

something that is grabbed

up for grabs informal available to be bought, claimed, or won

Derived forms of grab

grabber, noun

Word Origin for grab

C16: probably from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch grabben; related to Swedish grabba, Sanskrit grbhnāti he seizes

Idioms and Phrases with grabbed

grab

In addition to the idiom beginning with grab

grab bag

also see:

how does that grab you
up for grabs

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

grab

verb (used with object), grabbed, grab·bing.

verb (used without object), grabbed, grab·bing.

noun

Idioms for grab

Origin of grab

SYNONYMS FOR grab

OTHER WORDS FROM grab

Words nearby grab

Example sentences from the Web for grabbed

British Dictionary definitions for grabbed

verb grabs, grabbing or grabbed

noun

Derived forms of grab

Word Origin for grab

Idioms and Phrases with grabbed

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

grab

verb (used with object), grabbed, grab·bing.

verb (used without object), grabbed, grab·bing.

noun

Idioms for grab

Origin of grab

SYNONYMS FOR grab

OTHER WORDS FROM grab

Words nearby grab

Words related to grabbed

Example sentences from the Web for grabbed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for grabbed

verb grabs, grabbing or grabbed

noun

Derived forms of grab

Word Origin for grab

Idioms and Phrases with grabbed

British Dictionary definitions for grabbed