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

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

Josh Lucas gives a gripping performance as Hurdis, taking viewers on a thrilling and unpredictable ride where danger—and murder—waits around every turn. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026

This new doc is a gripping watch, with incredible access to the principals. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 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