grip

1 of 2

verb

ˈgrip 

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 or dominating influence

has the country in his grip

The country is in the grip of a recession.

b

: power of understanding : 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

c

: control of one's thoughts and emotions

—used in the phrases get a grip (on oneself) and lose one's grip

… until he actually fixes his turnover concerns, the fanbase will continue to be upset. In reality, though, fans need to get a grip.

—Nick Faria

I've never seen him so bewildered. He's losing his grip.

3

: a part or device for gripping

4

: a part by which something is grasped

especially : handle

5

: suitcase

6

a

: a stage worker who handles scenery, properties, or lights : stagehand

b

: a technician on a movie or television set who handles and maintains equipment (such as cameras and their dollies and cranes)

Synonyms of grip

Verb

• clutch
• hold
• clench
• grab

Noun

• suitcase
• wallet

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

Fans were gripping fences all Sunday morning as the sounds of racecars serenaded the tens of thousands who flocked to IndyCar’s inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Mar. 2026

This week has a fun spread of stuff, from wacky anime to gripping British dramas and documentary series. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026

Noun

Jones lost grip of the bag, and the man fired toward the teen several times, according to the probable cause statement. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026

In power since 2010 and looking for his fifth consecutive election victory, Orbán, 62, faces a more competitive race than at any time in the past two decades as Magyar has shot to prominence and challenged what once seemed an unshakable grip on power by the pro-Russian populist. —Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing grip

• death grip
• get a grip on
• have a grip
• in the grip of
• key grip
• loosen one's grip/hold
• lose one's grip
• losing his grip on reality
• pistol grip

Rhymes for grip

• blip
• chip
• clip
• dip
• drip
• flip
• grippe
• hip
• ip
• kip
• lip
• nip

Kids Definition

grip

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrip 

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

b

: comprehension sense 3, understanding

3

: a part or device for gripping or by which something is grasped

especially : handle entry 1 sense 1

4

: suitcase