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
Chandelis Duster, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
With City’s left-back, Matheus Nunes, moving out of position to press Mainoo, Ugarte’s involvement grabs the attention of Ilkay Gundogan and Josko Gvardiol.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Claudette clocks and grabs a strange thumb drive that had been inserted into the workstation.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
O’Brien’s guest, the comedian Eric André, sits down and grabs a microphone from the host’s desk.
—Chris Almeida, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025
My teen grabs it for beach days, too.
—Terri Peters, Parents, 26 Aug. 2025
Dougal grabs her arm to escort her back to the castle.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The surprise grabs you, but the meaning keeps you.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
In terms of social media, in terms of creating content that grabs people enough to bring them to you.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Especially in the modern game, a season without injuries feels like a pipe dream, but injuries tend to hit differently when the postseason is only a few weeks away and playoff spots are up for grabs.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
But multiple other Democratic districts were up for grabs, too.
—Mary Ramsey
updated September 9, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
That goes a long way at the Olympics, where judges scrutinize the cleanliness of riders’ grabs and landings.
—Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There have been power grabs for years regarding real estate and everything else around New York City.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Such blatant grabs by the state send a clear signal to those who are tempted to think that the perquisites of Russian elite status—money and businesses—belong exclusively to them.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
Still up for grabs is the chance to be the first president to win an Oscar.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
That role was still up for grabs as of Thursday.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
As fans scramble to catch the ball, footage shows, the ball appears to land one row in front of a woman while a man runs over and grabs it.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
With City’s left-back, Matheus Nunes, moving out of position to press Mainoo, Ugarte’s involvement grabs the attention of Ilkay Gundogan and Josko Gvardiol.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Claudette clocks and grabs a strange thumb drive that had been inserted into the workstation.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
O’Brien’s guest, the comedian Eric André, sits down and grabs a microphone from the host’s desk.
—Chris Almeida, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025
My teen grabs it for beach days, too.
—Terri Peters, Parents, 26 Aug. 2025
Dougal grabs her arm to escort her back to the castle.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The surprise grabs you, but the meaning keeps you.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
In terms of social media, in terms of creating content that grabs people enough to bring them to you.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
The world title is up for grabs at the 2025 World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Especially in the modern game, a season without injuries feels like a pipe dream, but injuries tend to hit differently when the postseason is only a few weeks away and playoff spots are up for grabs.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
But multiple other Democratic districts were up for grabs, too.
—Mary Ramsey
updated September 9, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
That goes a long way at the Olympics, where judges scrutinize the cleanliness of riders’ grabs and landings.
—Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There have been power grabs for years regarding real estate and everything else around New York City.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Such blatant grabs by the state send a clear signal to those who are tempted to think that the perquisites of Russian elite status—money and businesses—belong exclusively to them.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
Still up for grabs is the chance to be the first president to win an Oscar.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
That role was still up for grabs as of Thursday.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grabs
Verb
-
Suddenly, the Thursday Murder Club seizes an opportunity and leaps from the cold case realm into a very hot murder investigation.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
During a physical confrontation, Matheo forces Saskia to retreat, and Sylvie seizes the opportunity to grab Saskia’s gun.—
Time,
Time,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There were thefts and assaults in New York City, an uptick in domestic-violence calls from shelters, and robberies in a number of cities, including Chicago and Denver.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The thefts included hundreds of new vehicles.—
Christina Hall,
USA Today,
6 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
-
Alphonse Pierre’s Off the Dome column covers songs, mixtapes, albums, scenes, snippets, movies, Meek Mill tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches his attention.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The center beam shows color and detail clearly, while the outer glow only catches movement.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Jaonaay spent three to four months with producer Karn of Yented crafting the modern R&B track, which captures the sleepless nights and racing thoughts of new love.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Cronenberg captures the way such a gift might unwind a person in an effectively unshowy way.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When Emily lands the coveted promotion that Luke had been vying for, their relationship ushers in a new complex power dynamic both inside and outside the office.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Reuters — The US government filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison on Thursday, blaming the utility’s equipment for sparking two wildfires, including the Eaton Fire in January that damaged National Forest System lands.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Warren also holds the producing reins and gets co-scripting credit with john Meston.—
Hal Landers,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The Bot gets 1 for guessing in three and then loses it for losing to me.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grabs. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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