1
as in control
the ability to direct the course of something
The team got out to a big lead and rightly assumed that victory was within their grasp.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grip
the act or manner of holding
during the roller coaster ride, my date clutched my arm with a deathlike grasp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in understanding
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
I think I finally have a grasp of Spanish grammar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to understand
to have a practical understanding of
he just doesn't grasp how important it is that he call when he'll be late
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
the departing soldier grasped his children a little closer than usual
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to hold
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
the attendant grasped my arm and steered me towards the door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to know
to have a clear idea of
the emergency operator finally grasped what he was trying to tell her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of grasp
Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 17 June 2025
Would Haliburton be sidelined if this was January, in the dog days of a regular season grind, instead of June when a championship is within grasp?
—Shane Young, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
As the two families try to grasp what happened 16 years ago, police are called and complications — with violence, threats, mean girls and a disappearance — ensue.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grasp
Noun
To negotiate when our strategic objective is within our grasp risks failing to achieve it.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 17 June 2025
Would Haliburton be sidelined if this was January, in the dog days of a regular season grind, instead of June when a championship is within grasp?
—Shane Young, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
The community was still struggling to grasp the eight boater deaths.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
As the two families try to grasp what happened 16 years ago, police are called and complications — with violence, threats, mean girls and a disappearance — ensue.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasp
Noun
-
Ranged across the top of the SoundLink Plus there is a strip of soft-touch controls for turning the speaker on and off, initiating Bluetooth pairing, syncing with other Bose speakers, as well as playing and pausing music, skipping tracks and adjusting volume levels.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
-
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
Hundreds of Iranians have been detained on political and security charges as the government works to retain its grip on power.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
-
Hard tires last longer—saving pit stops—but have less grip, and result in slower lap times.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Scientific objectives include gaining an understanding of the Reiner Gamma swirl mini-magnetosphere region and its magnetic and plasma properties. TBD, 2025: Blue Origin New Glenn carrying Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1), a single-launch, lunar cargo lander that remains on the surface.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 June 2025
-
Against this backdrop of inflated expectations and deflating results, a more nuanced understanding has emerged from those like LeCun, who've spent decades wrestling with the actual mechanics of intelligent systems.—
Gabriel Snyder,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
If not, the Kings might come to understand why Kerr couldn’t always trust Kuminga in key situations.—
Jason Anderson
July 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 July 2025
-
To better understand the risks and inform public debate, the French food safety agency ANSES ran multiple studies to measure microplastic levels in everyday foods, especially seafood and beverages.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
Guardiola has always traditionally asked for his two wingers to provide the width for the team but that started to change at times last season, with the full-backs hugging the touchline.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
-
Aaron Paul and pal, Chef Michael Mina, hug it out at the one-year anniversary of Bourbon Steak in New York.—
Grace Harrington,
People.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
But what if this isn’t a fight to win, but a lesson in learning how to hold your center amidst chaos?—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
-
The central bank will hold four rate-setting meetings over the remainder of 2025 – and the first will happen on July 29 and 30.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
7 July 2025
-
But give us a few more decades of carbon emissions and poor planning, and who knows?—
Chris Reed,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
That’s because stock is only taxed when it’s sold, and not on its appreciation in value; activists like the protesters in Venice this week want that to change.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Montano expressed appreciation for $5 million worth of federal grants that will be used to improve local intersections and school zones.—
Stephanie Lam,
Mercury News,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasp. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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