grip

1 a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles she placed her grip in the train's overhead rack and seated herself comfortably Synonyms carryall, carry-on, traveling bag, handbag, holdall [chiefly British], portmanteau, suitcase, walletRelated Words overnight bag (also overnight case), weekend bag (also weekend case), weekender; cosmetic case, traveling case; carpetbag, duffel bag, kit, kit bag; backpack, haversack, knapsack, packsack, rucksack; attaché, attaché case, briefcase, valise; baggage, bags, luggage

2 the act or manner of holding get a better grip on the lid and try to open the jar again Synonyms clasp, clench, grapple, grasp, hold, handgrip, handholdRelated Words anchorage, leverage, purchase; grab, seizure; foothold, footing, toehold; clinch, embrace, hugNear Antonyms release, relinquishment

3 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something he has a good grip on basic Spanish grammar and spelling Synonyms appreciation, apprehension, grasp, comprehension, hold, perception, percipience, understandingRelated Words absorption, assimilation, digestion, uptake; conception, visualization; awareness, consciousness, enlightenment, realizationNear Antonyms misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misperception, misunderstandingAntonyms incomprehension, noncomprehension

4 the right or means to command or control others a tyrant that keeps the masses tightly in his grip Synonyms arm, authority, clutch, command, control, death grip, dominion, power, hold, mastery, reign, rein(s), swayRelated Words clout, influence, leverage, pull, voice, weight; jurisdiction; direction, management; dominance, imperium, predominance, sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy; prerogative, privilege, right; eminence, importance, momentNear Antonyms helplessness, weaknessAntonyms impotence, impotency, powerlessness

5 a part by which an implement is held bought new pots with heat-resistant grips Synonyms handle, haft, handgrip, helveRelated Words bar, handlebar; bail, bow, loop; hilt, shaft; crop, whipstock; broomstick

1 to have or keep in one's hands gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill Synonyms clench, cling (to), clutch, holdRelated Words bear, carry; bag, capture, catch, collar, corral, grab, grapple, hook, land, latch (on or onto), nab, nail, seize, snap (up), snare, snatch, take, trap; feel, finger, handle, paw; clasp, embrace, grasp, hug; cradleNear Antonyms drop, give, hand, unclasp, unhand; cede, deliver, give up, hand out, hand over, release, relinquish, render, turn over, yield

2 to hold the attention of as if by a spell that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit Synonyms arrest, bedazzle, catch up, enchant, fascinate, enthrall, hypnotize, mesmerize, spellbindRelated Words enrapture, entrance, thrill; beguile, bewitch, charm; absorb, engage, engross, involve

3 to hold the attention of that movie will grip any true sports car fan Synonyms absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engross, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, engage, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupyRelated Words allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess; hypnotize, mesmerize; distract, preoccupy; hog, monopolizeNear Antonyms bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

4 to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms the baby gripped my fingers and wouldn't let go Synonyms clasp, grasp, take, holdRelated Words clench, cling (to), clutch, hold on (to); catch, nab, seize, snatchNear Antonyms discharge, drop, free, liberate, release; deliver, entrust (also intrust), give, hand, hand over, pass, relinquish, transfer, transmit, turn over, unhand