nab

verb

ˈnab 

nabbed; nabbing

transitive verb

1

: to catch or seize in arrest : apprehend

2

: to seize suddenly

Synonyms

• apprehend
• arrest
• bust [slang]
• collar
• nail
• nick [British slang]
• pick up
• pinch
• pull in
• restrain
• run in
• seize

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

One such celeb is Taylor Swift, who nabbed her first PEOPLE cover in 2009 and in November 2010, sat down with our reporters for a wide-ranging chat on her musical inspirations and her quiet personal life as Speak Now was climbing the charts. —Joey Bartolomeo, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024

The most skilled swimmers were better able to nab prey and otherwise survive, beginning an evolutionary trajectory that would result in 50-foot-long, multi-ton ocean giants like the extremely toothy Mosasaurus. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of English dialect nap

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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