grip

play

verb \ ˈgrip \

Definition of grip

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

—

grippingly

play \ˈgri-piŋ-lē\ adverb

See grip defined for English-language learners

See grip defined for kids

Examples of grip in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of grip from the Web

On either side of the stator are arms of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen that stretch out and grip the surface of the cell.

— ryan cross, Science | AAAS, "Nanomachines drill holes into cancer cells," 30 Aug. 2017
Even as Mr. Trump visited Corpus Christi, attention was focused on the growing catastrophe gripping suburban Houston, a sprawling, low-lying metropolitan area with a population of 6.3 million 220 miles to the northeast.

— glenn thrush, New York Times, "Trump, in Texas, Calls Harvey Recovery Response Effort a ‘Real Team’," 29 Aug. 2017
Analysts said that Levinsohn faces daunting challenges gripping the news industry.

— meg james, The Seattle Times, "Ross Levinsohn’s hardest job: turning the Los Angeles Times around," 27 Aug. 2017
On a recent day, Deborah Slavin stood on a cabin porch in the summer heat, gripping a can of beer snuggled in a koozie.

— max londberg, kansascity, "Dark rituals? Orgies? See the reality of a hippie commune deep in Missouri’s Bible Belt," 27 Aug. 2017
About this series: How the Courier-Journal chronicled Louisville's fight against drugs Gunn has kept his word, remaining drug free nearly six years — about as long as the heroin crisis has gripped Louisville.

— beth warren, The Courier-Journal, "‘I was scared to get sober': He dealt heroin, now he's been clean six years," 24 Aug. 2017
Gripping a flag like a weapon, Fears strode to the front and melted into the melee.

— terrence mccoy, chicagotribune.com, "The road to hate: For six young men of the alt-right, Charlottesville is only the beginning," 20 Aug. 2017
CANCER Leaving behind: Gripping tightly around partnership.

— bess matassa, Teen Vogue, "Total Solar Eclipse Horoscope," 19 Aug. 2017
Republican lawmakers say its decisions are opaque and arbitrary, while companies have griped over designations or had to sell businesses to exit the government’s grip.

— jesse hamilton, Bloomberg.com, "Prudential Is Plotting Its Escape From Fed's Tough Oversight," 17 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grip.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of grip

Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan; akin to Old English grīpan

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

grip Synonyms

Synonyms

clench, cling (to), clutch, hold

Related Words

bear, carry; bag, capture, catch, collar, corral, grab, grapple, hook, land, latch (on or onto), nab, nail, seize, snap (up), snare, snatch, take, trap; feel, finger, handle, paw; clasp, embrace, grasp, hug; cradle

Near Antonyms

drop, give, hand, unclasp, unhand; cede, deliver, give up, hand out, hand over, release, relinquish, render, turn over, yield

grip

noun

Definition of grip

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, mastery, or understanding

has the country in his grip

b :mental grasp

can't seem to get a grip on calculus

3 :a part or device for gripping

4 :a part by which something is grasped; especially :handle

5 :suitcase

6 :stagehand

The grips quickly changed the scenery.

See grip defined for English-language learners

Examples of grip in a Sentence

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 of grip from the Web

Wearing dark clothes that blended with the dim lighting, the lanky singer sought to hide behind his microphone stand, his hands keeping a tight grip on it while his body stayed slightly concealed and relatively immobile.

— bob gendron, chicagotribune.com, "Review: Mark Lanegan loves the dark, and you will, too," 23 Aug. 2017
After relinquishing the chief executive’s seat on Uber’s board, Kalanick immediately took a new seat at the table and has kept a tight grip on two other unfilled board positions.

— brad stone, Bloomberg.com, "Uber’s Travis Kalanick Isn’t Following the Steve Jobs Blueprint," 14 Aug. 2017
The Kims have kept a tight grip on North Korea internally through a brutal system of repression and fear, and have increasingly kept the outside world at bay by developing nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them.

— anna fifield, Washington Post, "Kim Jong Un wants to stay in power — and that is an argument against nuclear war," 10 Aug. 2017
Israel, which captured those territories in the 1967 Mideast war, withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but keeps a tight grip on the rest.

— mohammed daraghmeh, The Seattle Times, "AP Interview: Ex-Gaza chief says Hamas deal will open border," 23 July 2017
Even within the government, the prime minister’s lack of grip means that cabinet ministers have started openly disagreeing about what shape Brexit should take.

— The Economist, "Britain faces up to Brexit," 22 July 2017
But disquiet about Mr Xi’s grip has turned the unlikely figure of Guo Wengui, a Chinese billionaire who lives in exile in New York, into a person of political significance.

— The Economist, "Sun’s outA potential successor to Xi Jinping is purged," 20 July 2017
Either his back gives or his hands tremble and lose their grip.

— karissa chen, Longreads, "My Grandfather’s Fateful Goodbye, Reimagined," 8 July 2017
A mix of Bumble & Bumble Surf Infusion and Bumble & Bumble Bb Texture Gel-crème diffused into the hair helped enhance them models' natural hair texture, while a blast of Bumble & Bumble Does It All hairspray added grip and hold.

— sophia panych, Allure, "Rodarte Took Flowers to the Next Level for Their Haute Couture Show," 2 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of grip

see ¹grip

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

grip Synonyms

Synonyms

carryall, carry-on, traveling bag, handbag, holdall [chiefly British], portmanteau, suitcase, wallet

Antonyms

incomprehension, noncomprehension

Related Words

overnight bag (also overnight case), weekend bag (also weekend case), weekender; cosmetic case, traveling case; carpetbag, duffel bag, kit, kit bag; backpack, haversack, knapsack, packsack, rucksack; attaché, attaché case, briefcase, valise; baggage, bags, luggage

Near Antonyms

release, relinquishment

GRIP Defined for English Language Learners

grip

play

verb

Definition of grip for English Language Learners

: to grab or hold (something) tightly
: to get and hold the interest or attention of (someone)

grip

noun

Definition of grip for English Language Learners

: the act of grabbing or holding something
: a way or style of holding something
: power or control

GRIP Defined for Kids

grip

play

verb \ ˈgrip \

Definition of grip for Students

gripped; gripping

1 :to grab or hold tightly

2 :to hold the interest of

The story grips the reader.

grip

noun

Definition of grip for Students

1 :a strong grasp

2 :strength in holding :power

the grip of winter

3 :¹understanding 1

I finally have a grip on division.

4 :self-control

Calm down and get a grip.

5 :¹handle

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grip

Definition of grip

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grip Synonyms

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GRIP Defined for English Language Learners

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grip

Definition of grip for English Language Learners

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grip

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grip

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