grab Meaning & Definition
What Does Grab Mean?
As a verb, grab means To grip suddenly; to seize; to clutch. It can also mean To make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something). As a noun, it means A sudden snatch at something. As a noun, it means A two- or three-masted vessel used on the Malabar coast.
Word Facts for Grab
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹæb/ |
| Synonyms | snap, seize and snatch |
| Plural | grabs |
| Verb forms | grabs, grabbing, grabbed |
Grab Definition (Verb)
- To grip suddenly; to seize; to clutch.
I grabbed her hand to pull her back from the cliff edge.
- To make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something).
The suspect suddenly broke free and grabbed at the policeman's gun.
- To restrain someone; to arrest.
- To grip the attention of; to enthrall or interest.
How does that idea grab you?
- To quickly collect, retrieve, or take.
Come in and grab a seat [i.e. sit down].
- To consume something quickly.
We'll just grab a sandwich and then we'll be on our way.
- To take the opportunity of.
Grab as a Noun
- A sudden snatch at something.
- An acquisition by violent or unjust means.
- A mechanical device that grabs or clutches. A device for withdrawing drills, etc., from artesian and other wells that are drilled, bored, or driven.
- A device for withdrawing drills, etc., from artesian and other wells that are drilled, bored, or driven.
- A sound bite.
- That which is seized.
- The rescue of a person from a burning structure.
- A simple card game.
Noun
- A two- or three-masted vessel used on the Malabar coast.
Synonyms of Grab
Grab synonyms and antonyms →Grab in a Sentence
I grabbed her hand to pull her back from the cliff edge.
The suspect suddenly broke free and grabbed at the policeman's gun.
Stop grabbing or I won't give you any cookies.
How does that idea grab you?
Come in and grab a seat [i.e. sit down].
We'll just grab a sandwich and then we'll be on our way.
Is there time to grab a coffee?
Word Forms & Grammar
grab (third-person singular simple present grabs, present participle grabbing, simple past and past participle grabbed)
grab (countable and uncountable, plural grabs)
grab (plural grabs)
Words That Rhyme With Grab
Origin of Grab
Origin 1: From Middle Dutch grabben or Middle Low German grabben (“to grasp, grab, seize, snatch”), from Old Saxon gravan, from Proto-West Germanic *grabbōn, a secondary form of Proto-Germanic *grabōną (“to gather, rake”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to gather, rake, grab, seize”).
Origin 2: Related to archaic German grappen (“to grab”), Danish grabbe (“to grab”), Swedish grabba (“to grab”), Old Norse grápa (“to seize, appropriate”), Middle English grappen (“to feel, grope, grasp, clutch”), Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”).
Origin 3: Related also to Sanskrit गृह्णाति (gṛhṇā́ti), गृभ्णाति (gṛbhṇā́ti, “he seizes”), Avestan 𐬔𐬭𐬀𐬠 (grab, “to seize”)), Macedonian грабне (grabne, “to snatch”), Bulgarian грабя (grabja, “to rob, to grab”).
Origin 4: From Arabic غُرَاب (ḡurāb) and Hindi ghurb?: crow, raven, a kind of Arab ship. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.
Quick Answers About Grab
Is grab a verb or a noun?
Grab is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for grab?
Words with a similar meaning to grab include snap, seize and snatch. See the full list of grab synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of grab?
The plural of grab is grabs.
What is the past tense of grab?
The past tense of grab is grabbed. The present participle is grabbing.