as in seizes
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
don't grab my arm like that
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Recent Examples of grabs
Dipangkar Dutta, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
When Catalina goes into the kitchen to refill her calabash, Frances grabs the box of Thompson paperbacks and makes a run for Ray at the restaurant.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
The fabric toys may also make crinkly sounds when your child grabs them.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
The agent then grabs Moreta-Galarza and forces her several feet down the hallway and into a wall.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Jonah grabs Henry's gun and shoots him coldly in the head.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Plopping himself down on it, Mushi then grabs the blanket in his mouth again, pulls it over himself, and settles down for a nap.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
By contrast, if Washington grabs universities’ licensing revenue, research institutions will have less incentive to push discoveries toward commercialization.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
But the feeling when a film grabs hold remains the same—by a story, a character, a voice—that, never goes out of season.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2025
His 282 receiving yards lead the team, as do his 11 first-down grabs.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Baskets under the daybed do the heavy lifting of storing shoes, dog leashes, and other items that need to be readily available for quick grabs on the go.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
Through his first 11 quarters in Denver, Engram had accumulated just seven grabs for 51 yards.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Metropolitan Park, projected to raise $850 million in taxes for the city and state by its third year in operation, is the largest project of the remaining contenders, which is partly why it’s favored to secure one of the three licenses up for grabs.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2025
With 28 total points up for grabs – eight apiece for foursomes and fourballs sessions across the first two days, and 12 for each Sunday singles matchup – the first team to nudge past the 14-point mark is crowned champion.
—Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
New York opened camp Wednesday with its deepest roster in years — and with one starting spot still up for grabs.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
More than $400 million was up for grabs last night for the latest Mega Millions drawing, and someone could have hit it big.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
When virtual particle pairs pop into existence at the edge of black holes, sometimes the black hole’s gravity grabs one partner while the other escapes.
—Dipangkar Dutta, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
When Catalina goes into the kitchen to refill her calabash, Frances grabs the box of Thompson paperbacks and makes a run for Ray at the restaurant.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
The fabric toys may also make crinkly sounds when your child grabs them.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
The agent then grabs Moreta-Galarza and forces her several feet down the hallway and into a wall.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Jonah grabs Henry's gun and shoots him coldly in the head.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Plopping himself down on it, Mushi then grabs the blanket in his mouth again, pulls it over himself, and settles down for a nap.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
By contrast, if Washington grabs universities’ licensing revenue, research institutions will have less incentive to push discoveries toward commercialization.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
But the feeling when a film grabs hold remains the same—by a story, a character, a voice—that, never goes out of season.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Whereas the 2025 best new artist competition was unusually stacked, the 2026 trophy appears fully up for grabs, with very few sure-thing nominees by the time the eligibility period closed at the end of August.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2025
His 282 receiving yards lead the team, as do his 11 first-down grabs.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Baskets under the daybed do the heavy lifting of storing shoes, dog leashes, and other items that need to be readily available for quick grabs on the go.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
Through his first 11 quarters in Denver, Engram had accumulated just seven grabs for 51 yards.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Metropolitan Park, projected to raise $850 million in taxes for the city and state by its third year in operation, is the largest project of the remaining contenders, which is partly why it’s favored to secure one of the three licenses up for grabs.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2025
With 28 total points up for grabs – eight apiece for foursomes and fourballs sessions across the first two days, and 12 for each Sunday singles matchup – the first team to nudge past the 14-point mark is crowned champion.
—Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
New York opened camp Wednesday with its deepest roster in years — and with one starting spot still up for grabs.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
More than $400 million was up for grabs last night for the latest Mega Millions drawing, and someone could have hit it big.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grabs
Verb
-
Against her will, Fadia becomes trapped in an asylum while her cousin seizes her inheritance, depriving her of even her right to grieve.—
Jenny S. Li,
Variety,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Amelia Mitcham seizes opportunity to help her neighborhood A local investor has renovated a former tavern in Milwaukee's Merrill Park neighborhood.—
Tom Daykin,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For Parisian Jews in 1941 and 1942, these thefts were compounded by a cascade of other degradations, including the loss of distinguished positions at the Sorbonne, in banking, science, and medicine, with more devastation to come.—
Christopher C. Gorham
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The rise in organized thefts has become a major talking point for advocates who are asking the state to step in to do more to prevent the violent encounters.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wednesday then rescues Pugsley as Gomez and Morticia arrive, but before the family can properly reunite, Isaac snatches Wednesday into his telekinetic grip, choking her.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
-
And just when the woman and the cookie are about to share a kiss, a hand reaches in from above and snatches the cookie from the scene.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
From this point of view, Xidan Books may seem to suffer from comparison with the Zhongshuge chain, whose outlets are drawing increasing numbers of Beijing readers thanks to interior design that catches the eye and spurs a desire to linger at length.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
-
But there are specific pointers for ensuring your trap catches the intruder.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That dual identity—elegant dress watch with motorsport DNA—captures Ferrier’s unique perspective as both racer and artisan.—
Carol Besler,
Robb Report,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Powered by a mellow-yet rhythmic Afrobeats tune, the cheeky track finds Miko lusting over a stripper in this seductive narrative that captures an undeniable connection between the two.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of needing a runway, the vehicle lands under parachutes.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Oct. 2025
-
For an artist who now owns her entire catalog, the track lands like a victory lap disguised as a reckoning.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If the team that gets the ball first goes down and scores a touchdown, followed by a standard extra point, the second team has to score a touchdown but could attempt to end the game with a successful two-point try.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The pasta gets its fun colors from black carrot and tomato powder per ALDI’s promise to only use natural dyes in their products.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grabs. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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