grab
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to seize suddenly or quickly; snatch; clutch.
He grabbed me by the collar.
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to take illegal possession of; seize forcibly or unscrupulously.
to grab land.
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to obtain and consume quickly.
Let's grab a sandwich before going to the movie.
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Slang.
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to cause a reaction in; affect.
How does my idea grab you?
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to arouse the interest or excitement of.
The book was O.K., but it just didn't grab me.
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verb (used without object)
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to make a grasping or clutching motion (usually followed byat ).
He grabbed frantically at the life preserver.
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(of brakes, a clutch, etc.) to take hold suddenly or with a jolting motion; catch.
noun
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a sudden, quick grasp or snatch.
to make a grab at something.
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seizure or acquisition by violent or unscrupulous means.
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something that is grabbed.
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a mechanical device for gripping objects.
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the capacity to hold or adhere.
The glue was so old it had lost its grab.
idioms
noun
verb
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to seize hold of (something)
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(tr) to seize illegally or unscrupulously
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(tr) to arrest; catch
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(intr) (of a brake or clutch in a vehicle) to grip and release intermittently causing juddering
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informal (tr) to catch the attention or interest of; impress
noun
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the act or an instance of grabbing
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a mechanical device for gripping objects, esp the hinged jaws of a mechanical excavator
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something that is grabbed
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informal available to be bought, claimed, or won
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have grabbedperfect
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has grabbedperfect 3rd person singular
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am grabbingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been grabbingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been grabbingperfect progressive
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are grabbingprogressive
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is grabbingprogressive 3rd person singular
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grabbingparticiple
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grabssingular 3rd person
Past
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had grabbedperfect
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had been grabbingperfect progressive
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were grabbingprogressive plural
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was grabbingprogressive singular
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grabbedsimple
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grabbedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of grab1
First recorded in 1580–90; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German grabben, Swedish grabba
Origin of grab2
First recorded in 1670–80; from Arabic ghurāb literally, “raven”
Explanation
When you grab something, you clutch at it. When a party-goer breaks open a piñata, the other guests usually grab wildly at the candy that cascades out of it. You can grab for the string of a balloon as it floats away, or grab your friend in a hug. Another way to grab is to make an impression: "When I hear a marching band, it grabs my attention." A "grab bag" is a random mixture of things, or a bag of goodies you can reach into and grab from. If something's "up for grabs." it's available: "This last piece of pie is up for grabs!"
Vocabulary lists containing grab
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For anyone wanting to grab any resale tickets that become available, the festivals official vendors are See Tickets and Ticketmaster.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
The well-heeled enthusiast will be able to drive an hour from Los Angeles, or land at the nearby airfield or helipad, grab their car from the garage and burn rubber at Willow Springs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
They can’t just grab juice from the grid.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Then she said, “If you’re ever around and want to grab a drink, that’d be cool.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
I give Dad another worried glance while I grab Pierre’s original cardboard home.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
