gripping

1 of 2

adjective

grip·​ping ˈgri-piŋ 

: taking a powerful hold upon one's interest or feelings

a gripping thriller

Shabba Ranks has a gripping baritone voice that ranges from bedroom purr to locker-room-boast roar.

—Mark Coleman

grippingly adverb

a grippingly honest performance

gripping

2 of 2

present participle of grip entry 1

Examples of gripping in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

With Rachael Dahl’s fresh perspective behind the camera and a compelling cast led by Casey Cott and Margot Pitts, the film offers a gripping premise with strong international appeal. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026

There's also lots of original programming, including a gripping Australian crime drama and a Korean tale of betrayal and power. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026

The robot incorporates advanced hands for more precise gripping and Smart Limbs, which allow individual limbs to respond independently to their surroundings. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026

Hoover’s 2018 novel, Verity, is a gripping mystery where trust is elusive and the line between fiction and reality blurs. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gripping

• chipping
• clipping
• dipping
• dripping
• flipping
• nipping
• ripping
• shipping
• sipping
• skipping
• slipping
• snipping