nab

verb

ˈnab 

nabbed; nabbing

transitive verb

1

: to catch or seize in arrest : apprehend

2

: to seize suddenly

Synonyms of nab

• arrest
• seize
• grab
• apprehend
• detain

Examples of nab in a Sentence

We nabbed seats in the front row of the theater.

the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape

Recent Examples on the Web

Alvarez managed to nab a foul pop-up behind the plate for the first out, but a fly ball to center field scored another run, and Abrams managed to get to third. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Sep. 2026

The New York menswear brand has teamed up with the folks at Bose on an ultra-stylish pair of second-generation QuietComfort Ultra cans, which nabbed the accolade of best noise-canceling headphones in our 2026 Audio Awards. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026

Instead of its famous Stars, Michelin awards the world’s best hotels with Keys — and a Charlotte hotspot has once again nabbed this coveted honor. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026

Finally, nab 38% off the Roku Streaming Stick 4K with Dolby Vision, making sharp streaming portable and snappy for under $50. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of English dialect nap

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nab

• ab
• cab
• crab
• dab
• drab
• fab
• gab
• grab
• jab
• lab
• mab
• rab

Kids Definition

nab

verb

ˈnab 

nabbed; nabbing

1

: to seize and take into custody : arrest

2

: to seize suddenly

especially : steal entry 1 sense 2a