grip Meaning & Definition
What Does Grip Mean?
Grip is a verb that means To take hold (of), particularly with the hand. It is also used to mean To figuratively take hold of or grasp. As a noun, it means A hold or way of holding, particularly with the hand. As a noun, it means A small ditch or trench; a channel to carry off water or other liquid; a drain.
Grip at a Glance
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈɡɹɪp// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | clutch, hold and clench |
| Plural | grips |
| Verb forms | grips, gripping, gripped |
Grip Definition (Verb)
- To take hold (of), particularly with the hand.
That suitcase is heavy, so grip the handle firmly.
- To figuratively take hold of or grasp.
We need to grip this problem, not shut our eyes and hope it goes away.
- Of an emotion or situation: to have a strong effect upon.
As the water level began to rise, I was gripped by panic.
- To firmly hold the attention of.
The movie gripped me from beginning to end.
Grip as a Noun
- A hold or way of holding, particularly with the hand.
It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.
- Ability to resist slippage when pressed in contact with another object or surface.
These tyres are worn out and don't have much grip.
- A place to grip; a handle; the portion of a handle that the hand occupies.
There are several good grips on the northern face of this rock.
- Ellipsis of pistol grip.
- A device, or a portion of one, that grasps or holds fast to something.
The unthreaded portion of the bolt's shank is called the grip.
- An apparatus attached to a car (e.g., cable car, funicular car, mine car) for clutching a traction cable.
- Control, power, or mastery over someone or something; a tenacious grasp; a holding fast.
We need to get a grip on these spiralling costs.
- Mental grasp.
He's losing his grip – he's practically senile.
- A medium-sized bag or holdall for one's belongings, made of soft leather, canvas etc., and carried in the hand by two handles, one either side of the opening.
- A visual component on a window etc. enabling it to be resized and/or moved by dragging with a mouse or finger.
- A person responsible for handling equipment on the set.
- As much as one can hold in a hand; a handful.
I need to get a grip of nails for my project.
- A lot of something.
That is a grip of cheese.
- A long time.
I haven't seen you in a grip.
- Archaic spelling of grippe (“influenza”).
She has the grip.
- A small travelling-bag or gripsack.
Noun
- A small ditch or trench; a channel to carry off water or other liquid; a drain.
- A channel cut through a grass verge, especially for the purpose of draining water away from the highway.
Verb
- To trench; to drain.
Verb
- To help or assist, particularly in an emotional sense.
He grips me.
- To do something with another that makes you happy/gives you relief.
Let’s grip (get a coffee, hang, take a break, see a movie, etc.)
Noun
- A handle or other place to grip.
There are several good grips on the northern face of this rock.
- A visual component on a window etc. enabling it to be resized and/or moved.
- (film production) A person responsible for handling equipment on the set.
- An apparatus attached to a car for clutching a traction cable.
- Assistance; help or encouragement.
He gave me a grip.
- A helpful, interesting, admirable, or inspiring person.
You're a real grip.
- A tenacious grasp; a holding fast.
in the grip of a blackmailer
- A device for grasping or holding fast to something.
Noun
- Influenza, the flu.
Noun
- The griffin.
Synonyms of Grip
Antonyms of Grip
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Grip in a Sentence
That suitcase is heavy, so grip the handle firmly.
Unfortunately the glue didn't grip, and the whole thing came apart.
After a few slips, the tires gripped the pavement.
"Grip tightly on the rope!" — "I'm gripping! I'm gripping!"
We need to grip this problem, not shut our eyes and hope it goes away.
As the water level began to rise, I was gripped by panic.
The movie gripped me from beginning to end.
It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.
The ball will move differently depending on the grip used when throwing it.
These tyres are worn out and don't have much grip.
There are several good grips on the northern face of this rock.
The grip of a sword is part of its hilt.
The unthreaded portion of the bolt's shank is called the grip.
We need to get a grip on these spiralling costs.
in the grip of a blackmailer
to strengthen one's grip on a company
He's losing his grip – he's practically senile.
For God's sake man, stop panicking and get a grip of yourself!
I need to get a grip of nails for my project.
That is a grip of cheese.
I haven't seen you in a grip.
She has the grip.
He grips me.
Let’s grip (get a coffee, hang, take a break, see a movie, etc.)
He gave me a grip.
You're a real grip.
Word Forms & Grammar
grip (third-person singular simple present grips, present participle gripping, simple past and past participle gripped)
grip (countable and uncountable, plural grips)
grip (plural grips)
Words That Rhyme With Grip
Origin of Grip
Origin 1: Verb from Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan, from a Proto-Germanic *gripjaną (compare Old High German gripfen); compare the related Old English grīpan, whence English gripe. See also grope, and the related Proto-Germanic *grīpaną.
Origin 2: Noun from Middle English grippe, gripe, an amalgam of Old English gripe (“grasp, hold”) (cognate with German Griff) and Old English gripa (“handful”) (cognate with Swedish grepp).
Origin 3: From Middle English grip, grippe, gryppe (“a ditch, drain”), from Old English grēp (“a furrow, burrow”) and grēpe (“a furrow, ditch, drain”), from Proto-Germanic *grōpiz (“a furrow, groove”). Cognate with Middle Dutch grippe, gruppe (“ditch, drain”), greppe, German Low German Gruppe (“ditch, drain”). Related also to Old English grōp (“a ditch, drain”). More at groop.
Pronouncing Grip
Grip is pronounced //ˈɡɹɪp// and has 1 syllable.
Grip: Your Questions Answered
Is grip a verb or a noun?
Grip is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for grip?
Words with a similar meaning to grip include clutch, hold and clench. See the full list of grip synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of grip?
The plural of grip is grips.
What is the past tense of grip?
The past tense of grip is gripped. The present participle is gripping.