grip

1 of 2

verb

gripped; gripping

transitive verb

1
: to seize or hold firmly
gripped the door handle
2
: to hold the interest of strongly
a story that grips the reader
gripper noun

grip

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a strong or tenacious grasp
had a good grip on the tennis racket
b
: strength in gripping
c
: manner or style of gripping
the balanced grip of an expert golfer
2
a
: a firm tenacious hold typically giving control, mastery, or understanding
has the country in his grip
b
: mental grasp
can't seem to get a grip on [=gain a good understanding of] calculus
… I'm curious to see if preteens have a grip on this fairly sophisticated concept.John Hoffman
3
: a part or device for gripping
4
: a part by which something is grasped
especially : handle
5
6
a
: a stage worker who handles scenery, properties, or lights : stagehand
b
: a technician on a motion-picture or television set who handles and maintains equipment (such as cameras and their dollies and cranes)

Examples of grip in a Sentence

Verb The little boy gripped his mother's hand tightly. I gripped the door handle and pulled as hard as I could. The story really grips the reader. The scandal has gripped the nation. Noun His tennis instructor showed him the proper backhand grip. a golfer with an incorrect grip He has been doing all he can to maintain his grip on the company's finances. I need new grips for my golf clubs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
While the creator of the video presumably saw the bathtub as a really big cooking vessel, most viewers focused on possibilities like the slimy residue of soap scum and all the feet that have gripped the wet acrylic. Jonathan Dale / The Takeout, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2024 Stoudt’s comment reminds me of Sophie Gilbert’s observation in The Atlantic, during Objects’ 2018 run, that the phoning and typing most good reporters spend most days doing doesn’t lend itself to gripping entertainment. TIME, 14 Mar. 2024 Set in 1970s Jamaica, the film unfolds with a depth that grips the viewer from beginning to end. Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 Haiti Haiti has been gripped by gang violence and its citizens are at a breaking point. Aj Willingham, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Her brother was getting married, an expensive undertaking even in normal times, but the economic crisis and soaring inflation that have gripped Egypt for more than two years left the family no choice. Nada Rashwan, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 This gripping tale of the infamous 1930s bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow blends romance, drama, and violence, challenging social norms and censorship of the time. Travis Bean, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The background photo on his X (formerly Twitter) profile is of a young Kobe Bryant, gripping what looks like his first NBA championship trophy, looking grateful but unsatisfied all at once. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024 Director Dan Reed was given extensive access to the Austin courtroom during the Texas trial, resulting in gripping footage of genuine legal drama. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
These types of cups are often made of durable materials (for those who may still struggle with grip) and offer a spill or leak-proof lid to keep the contents inside. Lauren Wellbank, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024 So far, only 5% of that figure has been given. ‘People without mercy’ The RSF’s grip on food supplies is only part of a broadening system of coercion in Jazira, witness accounts indicate. Pallabi Munsi, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 The former president, despite facing four criminal cases, has only tightened his grip on the GOP in his third White House run. Hadriana Lowenkron, Fortune, 17 Mar. 2024 More than 30 years after its debut on ABC, Twin Peaks still holds a powerful grip on the imaginations of fans. Katie Rife, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2024 Armed gangs have tightened their grip on the country’s capital, attacked the international airport and main seaport, and threatened a civil war unless the prime minister stepped down. Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 As winter’s chilly grip makes way for warmer climes and longer days, spring wildflower blooms erupt in colorful splendor across the region’s alpine meadows, rugged coastlines, and grassland prairies. Krista Simmons and J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 On a recent podcast, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh pivoted the conversation to Alfred Hitchcock’s work, examining why, decades later, the auteur’s grip on audiences remains so tight. Kishori Rajan, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 Vehicle speed — When a vehicle’s speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan; akin to Old English grīpan

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of grip was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near grip

Cite this Entry

“Grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grip. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

grip

1 of 2 verb
gripped; gripping
1
: to seize firmly
2
: to hold strongly the interest of
the story grips the reader

grip

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: a firm grasp
b
: strength in gripping
c
: a way of clasping the hand by which members of a secret society recognize or greet one another
2
a
: a firm hold giving control
in the grip of winter
3
: a part or device for gripping or by which something is grasped
especially : handle entry 1 sense 1
4

More from Merriam-Webster on grip

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