stab

verb

stabbed; stabbing

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

stabber noun

see also:

stab in the back

Synonyms of stab

• pierce
• puncture
• jab
• pick
• stick

Examples of stab in a Sentence

He stabbed her with a dagger.

The victim was stabbed in the chest five times.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jury convicted Anthony earlier Tuesday The jury convicted Anthony of murder in the stabbing death of 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet – a case that drew national attention and intensified conversations about self‑defense, race, and safety at school events. —Doug Myers, CBS News, 10 June 2026

Emotional testimony details shocking stabbing The trial, which began with jury selection on June 1, included emotional testimony from eye witnesses and graphic video footage of the chaotic event, CBS News reported. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Rob Reiner, the famed director, and his wife and producer Michele, were found were found stabbed in their Brentwood home in December. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 June 2026

Witnesses told police that the two 17-year-old students fought after Metcalf asked Anthony to move from under the Memorial High School tent at Kuykendall Stadium, and that Metcalf either pushed or grabbed Anthony before Anthony pulled a knife from his bag and stabbed Metcalf in the chest. —Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing stab

• a stab in the dark
• give it a stab
• have a stab at
• stab in the back
• take/make a stab at

Rhymes for stab

• ab
• cab
• crab
• dab
• drab
• fab
• gab
• grab
• jab
• lab
• mab
• nab

Kids Definition

stab

1 of 2 noun

ˈstab 

1

: a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2

: a thrust of a pointed weapon

3

: effort sense 2, try

I'll take a stab at it

stab

2 of 2 verb

stabbed; stabbing

1

: to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed object or weapon

2

: thrust entry 1 sense 1, drive

stabber noun

Medical Definition

stab

1 of 2 noun

ˈstab 

1

: a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2

a

: a culture medium solidified in an upright column in a tube to reduce the surface to a minimum compare slant

b

: stab culture

stab

2 of 2 transitive verb

stabbed; stabbing

: to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed object or weapon