grab

¹grab

verb \ˈgrab\

grabbedgrab·bing

Definition of GRAB

transitive verb

1

: to take or seize by or as if by a sudden motion or grasp <grab up an ax> <grabbed the opportunity> <grab attention>

2

: to obtain unscrupulously <grab public lands>

3

: to take hastily <grab a bite to eat> <grab a cab>

4

a : to seize the attention of <the technique of grabbing an audience — Pauline Kael> b : to impress favorably and deeply

intransitive verb

: to make a grab

— grab·ber noun

Examples of GRAB

1. I have to go back in the house and grab my car keys.
2. The little boy grabbed onto his mother's leg and wouldn't let go.
3. I'll grab a taxi and meet you there.
4. Let's grab a bite to eat before the movie starts.
5. The store had a lot of nice stuff, but nothing really grabbed me.
6. The play grabs the audience from the opening scene.
7. One player in particular has been grabbing a lot of attention lately.

Origin of GRAB

obsolete Dutch or Low German grabben

First Known Use: circa 1581

Related to GRAB

Synonyms: bag, capture, collar, cop [slang], corral, get, glom, catch, grapple, hook, land, nab, nail, net, nobble [British slang], rap, seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap

Antonyms: miss

Related Words: glove, halter, lasso, rope; apprehend, arrest, detain; bay, corner; clasp, clutch, fasten (on), fist, grasp, grip, hold, latch (on or onto), secure; rend, wrest; enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entangle, entrap, mesh; abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off)

Near Antonyms: discharge, free, liberate, release; drop, loosen, unhand

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See Synonym Discussion at take

Rhymes with GRAB

ab, blab, cab, crab, Crabbe, dab, drab, fab, flab, gab, jab, lab, Lab, Mab, nab, scab, slab, stab, tab