nab

verb

ˈnab How to pronounce nab (audio)
Definition of nabnext
1
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly a pickpocket nabbed my wallet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nab The 11 Pro Fold nabs $2,249 from your bank account, which is already pricey, but the Z Fold 8 requires an extra $250 for the same configuration. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2026 That followed a single by Angel Genoa on a grounder up the middle that Bogaerts nabbed but threw into the Padres dugout, allowing Genoa to get to second base. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 In nabbing Purdy’s 4-yard, desperation heave before cornerback Riq Woolen could with 1 1/2 minutes to go, Tonges put himself on the NFL map as a fourth-year veteran. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 This is the company’s second collaboration with Stewart after Pablo Larraín’s Spencer, which nabbed her a Best Actress Oscar nomination. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
  1. arrest
  2. grab
  3. seize
  4. catch
  5. apprehend
  6. snatch
  7. detain
Verb
  • There have been no arrests made in relation to the death, police told CNN, but the father of one of Fortune’s children was arrested shortly after the discovery of her body on unrelated weapons charges, jail records show.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Nor could the state provide recidivism or success rate data related to the total number of participants who violated probation, were arrested or who successfully completed the program.
    — Julie Watts August 20, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrest
Verb
  • Students unlock their pouches, grab their devices and head home.
    — Wakisha Bailey, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • While looking at the shadows, Crimmins allegedly maneuvered the grapple so that its shadow appeared to grab Lynch’s shadow.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • The next season Keegan was joint top scorer as Liverpool were champions of England for the first time in seven years and also seized the club’s historic first European trophy.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Internet sleuths, predictably, have seized on this ambiguity as proof of malfeasance.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • But not before the former cheerleader caught a pass from Tebow and immediately did a split, drawing cheers from her favorite quarterback.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Sprinkle the garlic butter breadcrumbs over the top of the salad so they get caught in the dressing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of catch
Verb
  • An inmate ran out of a preliminary hearing at the Fairfield Courthouse Tuesday afternoon, knocking down a deputy district attorney and making it out of the courtroom before he was quickly apprehended, the Solano County Sheriff's Office said.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • What he was charged with and why Tunick was allowed to leave the airport the day of the encounter but was apprehended by police and indicted by a federal grand jury nine months later.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprehend
Verb
  • McLaren's Norris found some unexpected extra pace in qualifying to snatch top spot ahead of the Mercedes pair of Russell and standings leader Kimi Antonelli.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Mendoza’s first drive ended with his first interception, which Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz snatched and took back 80 yards for a pick six.
    — Sam Warren, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of snatch
Verb
  • He was detained in March last year and deported to El Salvador, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and other administration officials, later admitted that the removal was due to a clerical error.
    — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As the court met Monday on Yabloko’s appeal, the party’s supporters gathered outside the courthouse and Russian media reported that several dozen people were detained.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of detain

Browse Nearby Words

my word
nab
nabbed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tilde

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All