stab

1 of 2

noun

ˈstab 

1

: a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2

a

: a thrust of a pointed weapon

b

: a jerky thrust

3

: effort, try

4

: a sudden sharp feeling

stabs of regret

stab

2 of 2

verb

stabbed; stabbing

transitive verb

1

: to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed object or weapon

2

: thrust, drive

intransitive verb

: to thrust or give a wound with or as if with a pointed weapon

stabber noun

Phrases

stab in the back

: betray

Synonyms

Noun

• perforation
• pinhole
• pinprick
• prick
• punch
• puncture

Verb

• gore
• harpoon
• impale
• jab
• lance
• peck
• pick
• pierce
• pink
• puncture
• run through
• skewer
• spear
• spike
• spit
• stick
• transfix
• transpierce

Examples of stab in a Sentence

Noun

the injection left a small stab on her upper arm

everybody will get a stab at solving the problem

Verb

He stabbed her with a dagger.

The victim was stabbed in the chest five times.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two people who were in critical condition from stab wounds were airlifted for medical treatment, law enforcement said. —Erica Morris, ABC News, 8 June 2024

One victim, 37-year-old Jose Ramirez, was killed, and a 30-year-old man was taken to a hospital with stab wounds. —Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2024

Verb

Jorge Gilberto Rodriguez, 36, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Jesse Valdez, 40, who prosecutors say was stabbed two times at the Red Roof Inn. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2024

Both were stabbed outside of a grocery store on June 3, killing the toddler and injuring the mother, local news outlets reported. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stabbe

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing stab

• a stab in the dark
• give it a stab
• have a stab at
• stab in the back
• take/make a stab at

Kids Definition

stab

1 of 2 noun

ˈstab 

1

: a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2

: a thrust of a pointed weapon

3

: effort sense 2, try

I'll take a stab at it

stab

2 of 2 verb

stabbed; stabbing

1

: to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed object or weapon

2

: thrust entry 1 sense 1, drive

stabber noun

Medical Definition

stab

1 of 2 noun

ˈstab 

1

: a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2

a

: a culture medium solidified in an upright column in a tube to reduce the surface to a minimum compare slant

b

: stab culture

stab

2 of 2 transitive verb

stabbed; stabbing

: to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed object or weapon