grab

1 of 3

verb

ˈgrab 

grabbed; grabbing

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 take hastily

grab a bite to eat

grab a cab

3

a

: to seize the attention of

the technique of grabbing an audience

—Pauline Kael

b

: to impress favorably and deeply

4

: to obtain without consideration of what is right or wrong

grab public lands

intransitive verb

: to make a sudden snatch

grabber noun

grab

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: a sudden snatch

b

: an unlawful or unethical seizure

a grab for power

c

: something taken, seized, or grasped suddenly

2

chiefly British

a

: a device for clutching an object

b

: clamshell sense 2a

grab

3 of 3

adjective

1

: intended to be taken, seized, or grasped suddenly

a grab rail

2

: taken at random

grab samples of rocks

Phrases

up for grabs

: available for anyone to take, win, or settle

A lot of voters are still up for grabs.

Synonyms

Verb

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

Noun

• heist
• pinch
• rip-off
• snatching
• swiping
• theft

Choose the Right Synonym for grab

take, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch, grab mean to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand.

take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

Examples of grab in a Sentence

Verb

I have to go back in the house and grab my car keys.

The little boy grabbed onto his mother's leg and wouldn't let go.

I'll grab a taxi and meet you there.

Let's grab a bite to eat before the movie starts.

The store had a lot of nice stuff, but nothing really grabbed me.

The play grabs the audience from the opening scene.

One player in particular has been grabbing a lot of attention lately.

Noun

a political activist who thinks the government's lease of public lands to logging companies amounts to an illegal land grab

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The man was in danger of falling into traffic below when officers reached through the fence and grabbed him. —Ryan J. Foley, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2024

Here’s why neither is happy Aug. 9, 2023 Reedy accused the councilman of grabbing him, pushing him and hitting him during the confrontation. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

obsolete Dutch or Low German grabben

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1581, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Adjective

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grab

• grab a seat
• grab at/for
• grab bag
• grab/catch one's attention
• grab hold of
• grab the brass ring
• grab (the) headlines
• how does that grab you
• land grab
• make a grab for
• smash-and-grab

Kids Definition

grab

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrab 

grabbed; grabbing

: to take hastily : clutch, snatch

grabber noun

grab

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a sudden snatch

b

: an unlawful or forceful taking of something

a land grab

c

: something grabbed

2

: a device for clutching an object