stab

noun

\ ˈstab

Definition of stab

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2a : a thrust of a pointed weapon

b : a jerky thrust

3 : effort, try

4 : a sudden sharp feeling stabs of regret

stab

verb

stabbed; stabbing

Definition of stab (Entry 2 of 2)

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

stab in the back

: betray

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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

Several of the stab wounds, including one to the heart, would have caused her to bleed to death, Stephany added. — Monivette Cordeiro, orlandosentinel.com, "Jurors deciding Scott Nelson’s fate hear from Jennifer Fulford’s family: ‘I will always love her'," 1 July 2019 The GoFundMe campaign aims to raise funds to pay for 58-year-old Leigh Ann Zirkle’s medical bills, after she was left seriously injured from multiple stab wounds. — Emily Brindley, courant.com, "GoFundMe raises thousands for survivor of Nashville stabbing, in which Connecticut man was a suspect," 30 June 2019 The 26-year-old woman who was approximately eight months' pregnant suffered fatal stab wounds in the attack and went into cardiac arrest, Metropolitan Police said in a statement. — Bianca Britton And Katie Polglase, CNN, "Baby delivered after mother stabbed to death in London," 30 June 2019 The man is being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital after suffering multiple stab wounds in the wide alley that runs between Court Street and the side of the plaza lined by a string of stores and the Moakley Veterans Quarters, police said. — Emily Sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Man stabbed near Boston City Hall," 28 June 2019 According to police, the dead man’s roommate came home to the mobile home in the 3900 block of El Camino Real around 6:53 p.m. to find him with more than one stab wound to the chest. — Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, "Man suspected in Palo Alto stabbing death already was in custody," 27 June 2019 Francke, who was brought in to lead the department two years earlier, bled to death from stab wounds and was found on the north porch of the Dome Building. — oregonlive.com, "Frank Gable, convicted of killing Oregon prisons chief in 1989, will walk out of prison Friday," 27 June 2019 Police found stab wounds on the man’s chest and back, according to the affidavit. — Dallas News, "Man charged with murder after fatal stabbing at downtown Dallas DART station," 26 June 2019 Police responded to reports of an unconscious woman at the Centennial Village Apartments in Camden at about 5:40 a.m. Saturday and found Anna Ramirez with stab wounds. — Janelle Griffith, NBC News, "N.J. woman accused of stabbing identical twin sister to death," 25 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Last month, a woman in the area was stabbed when a fight over water turned violent. — Anchorage Daily News, "As a major Indian city runs out of water, 9 million people pray for rain," 2 July 2019 Cesare’s own brother turned up in the Tiber, brutally stabbed. — The Economist, "The most scandalous popes in history," 29 June 2019 While residents await any news from the investigation, local officials have been paying tribute to Schena, who was found stabbed to death in his home last week. — Emily Sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Town of Groveland stunned by slaying of 82-year-old man," 25 June 2019 Then a chauffeur is found stabbed to death in a sleeping-space locked from the inside. — Tom Nolan, WSJ, "Mysteries: The Dangers of Listening to Podcasts," 21 June 2019 In February 2011, Air Force Technical Sergeant Curtis Eccleston was found brutally stabbed to death in his apartment off base in Okinawa, Japan. — Matt Goldfarb, CBS News, "Investigation of airman's brutal murder in Japan uncovers deception, fraud and witchcraft," 19 June 2019 The family of a man who was found stabbed to death Saturday morning said the brutal slaying of the 25-year-old father has left them stunned, particularly given his kind and helpful nature. — Katherine Rosenberg-douglas, chicagotribune.com, "Man found stabbed to death near burning van remembered as ‘joyous person’," 16 June 2019 On this day 4 years ago, 48-year-old Dee Dee was found stabbed to death in her Missouri home. — Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "The True Story That Inspired The Act Is Really Something," 14 June 2019 Emory University says a female was found stabbed on campus near the baseball field. — Chelsea Prince, ajc, "Woman found stabbed on Emory University’s main campus," 25 June 2018

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