gripping

[ grip-ing ]

/ ˈgrɪp ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR gripping ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

holding the attention or interest intensely; fascinating; enthralling: a gripping play; a gripping book.

Origin of gripping

First recorded in 1620–30; grip + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM gripping

grip·ping·ly, adverb grip·ping·ness, noun

Words nearby gripping

gripe water, gripey, gripman, grippe, gripper, gripping, gripple, grippy, gripsack, gript, gripy

Definition for gripping (2 of 2)

grip

[ grip ]

/ grɪp /

noun

the act of grasping; a seizing and holding fast; firm grasp.

the power of gripping: He has a strong grip.

a grasp, hold, or control.

mental or intellectual hold: to have a good grip on a problem.

competence or firmness in dealing with situations in one's work or personal affairs: The boss is old and is losing his grip.

a special mode of clasping hands: Members of the club use the secret grip.

something that seizes and holds, as a clutching device on a cable car.

a handle or hilt: That knife has a very unusual grip.

a sudden, sharp pain; spasm of pain.

grippe.

Older Use. a small traveling bag.

Theater. a stagehand, especially one who works on the stage floor.
Movies, Television. a general assistant available on a film set for shifting scenery, moving furniture, etc.

verb (used with object), gripped or gript, grip·ping.

to grasp or seize firmly; hold fast: We gripped the sides of the boat as the waves tossed us about.

to take hold on; hold the interest of: to grip the mind.

to attach by a grip or clutch.

verb (used without object), gripped or gript, grip·ping.

to take firm hold; hold fast.

to take hold on the mind.

Origin of grip

before 900; Middle English, Old English gripe grasp (noun); cognate with German Griff, Old English gripa handful; see gripe

SYNONYMS FOR grip

14 impress, attract, rivet, hold, fascinate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR grip ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM grip

grip·less, adjective re·grip, verb, re·gripped or re·gript, re·grip·ping. un·grip, verb, un·gripped, un·grip·ping.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH grip

grip gripe grippe

Example sentences from the Web for gripping

The second pitfall is that Tendulkar has given the reader little of what should be a gripping, meaningful story of his life.

The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player |William O’Connor |December 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Each book has gripping scenes on the fear that permeated Argentina in those years.

How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF |Jason Berry |December 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
And the string of episodes that aired before that were gripping, noble, and simply entertaining to watch.

'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble |Kevin Fallon |December 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
All these folks were full of gripping stories about their time with Pryor, since he created much drama offstage as well as on.

How Richard Pryor Beat Bill Cosby and Transformed America |David Yaffe, Scott Saul |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Yet his narrative is gripping, perceptive, and moving at times, even if his conclusions are highly debatable.

How Gary Hart Became the First Political Sex Scandal Casualty |Lloyd Grove |October 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The reins trailed on the ground and the rider's hands were gripping the mane.

The Sheriff of Badger |George B. Pattullo
Peter held himself rigidly in the fear that he might disturb the hands that were gripping him.

Her Father's Daughter |Gene Stratton-Porter
Stonor sat down on a grub-box, and, gripping his bursting head between his hands, tried to think.

The Woman from Outside |Hulbert Footner
Then listen anew to His teaching talks, so homely and so gripping.

Quiet Talks with World Winners |S. D. Gordon
He was standing in the rumble, holding himself upright by gripping the back of the two front seats.

Motor Matt's Race |Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for gripping (1 of 2)

grip ¹

/ (ɡrɪp) /

noun

the act or an instance of grasping and holding firmly he lost his grip on the slope

Also called: handgrip the strength or pressure of such a grasp, as in a handshake a feeble grip

the style or manner of grasping an object, such as a tennis racket

understanding, control, or mastery of a subject, problem, etc (esp in such phrases as get or have a grip on)

Also called: handgrip a part by which an object is grasped; handle

Also called: handgrip a travelling bag or holdall

See hairgrip

any device that holds by friction, such as certain types of brake

a method of clasping or shaking hands used by members of secret societies to greet or identify one another

a spasm of pain a grip in one's stomach

a worker in a camera crew or a stagehand who shifts sets and props, etc

a small drainage channel cut above an excavation to conduct surface water away from the excavation

get to grips or come to grips (often foll by with)

to deal with (a problem or subject)
to tackle (an assailant)

verb grips, gripping or gripped

to take hold of firmly or tightly, as by a clutch

to hold the interest or attention of to grip an audience

Derived forms of grip

gripper, noun grippingly, adverb

Word Origin for grip

Old English gripe grasp; related to Old Norse gripr property, Old High German grif

British Dictionary definitions for gripping (2 of 2)

grip ²

/ (ɡrɪp) /

noun

med a variant spelling of grippe

Idioms and Phrases with gripping

grip

see come to grips with; get a grip on; lose one's grip.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

gripping

adjective

Origin of gripping

OTHER WORDS FROM gripping

Words nearby gripping

Definition for gripping (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), gripped or gript, grip·ping.

verb (used without object), gripped or gript, grip·ping.

Origin of grip

SYNONYMS FOR grip

OTHER WORDS FROM grip

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH grip

Example sentences from the Web for gripping

British Dictionary definitions for gripping (1 of 2)

noun

verb grips, gripping or gripped

Derived forms of grip

Word Origin for grip

British Dictionary definitions for gripping (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with gripping

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

gripping

adjective

Origin of gripping

OTHER WORDS FROM gripping

Words nearby gripping

Definition for gripping (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), gripped or gript, grip·ping.

verb (used without object), gripped or gript, grip·ping.

Origin of grip

SYNONYMS FOR grip

OTHER WORDS FROM grip

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH grip

Words related to gripping

Example sentences from the Web for gripping

British Dictionary definitions for gripping (1 of 2)

noun

verb grips, gripping or gripped

Derived forms of grip

Word Origin for grip

British Dictionary definitions for gripping (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with gripping