grasped; grasping; grasps
: to make the motion of seizing : clutch
grasping for support
1
: to take or seize eagerly
grasp the opportunity for advancement
2
: to clasp or embrace especially with the fingers or arms
grasped the pen and began writing
3
: to lay hold of with the mind : comprehend
failed to grasp the danger of the situation
grasper
noun
3
a
: the reach of the arms
The books on the top shelf were beyond my grasp.
b
: the power of seizing and holding or attaining
success lay within their grasp
4
: mental hold or comprehension especially when broad
a remarkable grasp of the subject
Synonyms
Examples of grasp in a Sentence
Verb
I grasped the end of the rope and pulled as hard as I could.
I grasped the rope by its end.
His arthritis is so bad he can barely grasp a pencil.
Noun
The author shows a weak grasp of military strategy.
The books on the top shelf are just beyond my grasp.
She moved the toy to within the baby's grasp.
She felt the solution was within her grasp.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Adding small items for kids to grasp and find gives them a soothing activity that improves fine motor skills and cognitive development.
—Quincy Bulin, Parents, 16 Apr. 2024
Even those who were there and remember it well may not fully grasp its complexities, particularly from the Vietnamese perspective.
—Nick Hilden, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
To see the Sasquatch crew tramping across a ridge, outlined against a pearlescent sky, is to grasp the fragility of their existence, and of ours.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Other vines put out tendrils that grow outward and grasp onto surfaces such as walls and trellises.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2024
Before the formal start of the experiment, Gallese grasped the objects to show them to a monkey.
—Quanta Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Thankfully, she was intrigued by Jimmy Choo and learned to reach out to grasp his legs and raise her head to interact with him.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 6 Apr. 2024
As the nudibranch tries to grasp its prey, the prey fires its tiny harpoons at the nudibranch.
—Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
It is intended for adults and children 10 years and over who have a grasp of the terminology.6
Based on a characteristic of pain, such as pain intensity or duration, different descriptions are ascribed to each value.
—Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024
Douglas tries to infuse humor in the role, highlighting Franklin’s various ailments – including his bouts of gout, along with his terrible grasp of the French language.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Wedding Guest Dresses The difference between cocktail and formal dress codes can be a bit confusing to get a grasp of; think of cocktail events as a more laidback event with lots of dancing, drinks, and looser rules.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2024
From there, get a clear, comprehensive grasp on your expenses.
—Mia Taylor, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Any writer or editor will appreciate her warmth and empathy, her grasp of craft, and her willingness to help writers get a foothold even when not accepting their manuscript.
—Longreads, 5 Apr. 2024
Putin is right about one thing: Ukraine’s sovereignty exists only as far as it can be defended from Moscow’s grasp.
—Branislav L. Slantchev, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
Before the book’s story in present-day China really gets going, Liu spends quite a bit of time in the past in order to give you a better grasp of the Cultural Revolution, the Maoist movement to purge society of capitalists and intellectuals.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
But he’s also met people who are sympathetic to his experience but hadn’t grasped the magnitude of Jan. 6 until speaking with him and seeing the footage.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Adding small items for kids to grasp and find gives them a soothing activity that improves fine motor skills and cognitive development.
—Quincy Bulin, Parents, 16 Apr. 2024
Even those who were there and remember it well may not fully grasp its complexities, particularly from the Vietnamese perspective.
—Nick Hilden, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
To see the Sasquatch crew tramping across a ridge, outlined against a pearlescent sky, is to grasp the fragility of their existence, and of ours.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Other vines put out tendrils that grow outward and grasp onto surfaces such as walls and trellises.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2024
Before the formal start of the experiment, Gallese grasped the objects to show them to a monkey.
—Quanta Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Thankfully, she was intrigued by Jimmy Choo and learned to reach out to grasp his legs and raise her head to interact with him.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 6 Apr. 2024
As the nudibranch tries to grasp its prey, the prey fires its tiny harpoons at the nudibranch.
—Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
The common denominator, according to White: None of those critics are at the bargaining table with the teams and do not have a full grasp of what the negotiations entail.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
It is intended for adults and children 10 years and over who have a grasp of the terminology.6
Based on a characteristic of pain, such as pain intensity or duration, different descriptions are ascribed to each value.
—Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024
Douglas tries to infuse humor in the role, highlighting Franklin’s various ailments – including his bouts of gout, along with his terrible grasp of the French language.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Wedding Guest Dresses The difference between cocktail and formal dress codes can be a bit confusing to get a grasp of; think of cocktail events as a more laidback event with lots of dancing, drinks, and looser rules.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2024
From there, get a clear, comprehensive grasp on your expenses.
—Mia Taylor, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Any writer or editor will appreciate her warmth and empathy, her grasp of craft, and her willingness to help writers get a foothold even when not accepting their manuscript.
—Longreads, 5 Apr. 2024
Putin is right about one thing: Ukraine’s sovereignty exists only as far as it can be defended from Moscow’s grasp.
—Branislav L. Slantchev, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
Before the book’s story in present-day China really gets going, Liu spends quite a bit of time in the past in order to give you a better grasp of the Cultural Revolution, the Maoist movement to purge society of capitalists and intellectuals.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grasp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near grasp
Cite this Entry
“Grasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grasp. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
grasp
1 of 2 verb1
: to make the motion of seizing : clutch
grasp at straws
2
: to clasp or embrace with or as if with the fingers or arms
3
: to lay hold of with the mind : comprehend
failed to grasp its importance
grasper
noun
grasp
2 of 2 noun1
2
: control entry 2 sense 1, hold
land in the grasp of a tyrant
3
a
: the reach of the arms
the tree limb was beyond my grasp
b
: the power of seizing and holding
success lies within their grasp
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