Meaning & use
grab
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To take hold of something suddenly and firmly with your hand.
Grammar: Often takes an object: grab the rope. You can also grab at something, but you may miss.
Patterns
- grab something
- grab at something
- grab someone by something
She grabbed the railing as the bus lurched.
He grabbed his coat and ran out the door.
The toddler grabbed at the toy on the shelf.
verbtransitiveinformal
To get or do something quickly because you are busy or the chance may disappear.
Grammar: Informal: grab a coffee, grab a seat.
Patterns
- grab a bite
- grab a seat
- grab some sleep
Let's grab lunch before the meeting.
I grabbed a seat at the back.
She grabbed a few hours of sleep on the train.
verbtransitiveinformal
To catch someone's attention or interest.
Grammar: Informal: the headline grabbed me.
Patterns
- grab someone's attention
- something grabs someone
The opening line grabbed my attention.
The ad did not grab me.
A bold poster will grab people's eyes.
nouncountable
A sudden attempt to seize something.
Grammar: Often used in make a grab for something.
Patterns
- make a grab for something
He made a grab for the falling glass.
The thief's grab at her bag failed.
There was a grab for the last ticket.
Word forms
| third person singular | grabs |
|---|---|
| past tense | grabbed |
| past participle | grabbed |
| -ing form | grabbing |
Common combinations
- grab hold of
- She grabbed hold of the rope.
- grab a bite
- Let's grab a bite after class.
- grab attention
- The poster grabbed everyone's attention.
- up for grabs
- The last job is still up for grabs.
- grab someone by the arm
- He grabbed her by the arm to stop her.
Synonyms and how they differ
- seize
- Seize is more formal and forceful, often used for taking control of something.
- snatch
- Snatch suggests a very quick movement, often taking something from someone else.
- grasp
- Grasp suggests a firm hold and does not imply suddenness.
- clutch
- Clutch means to hold tightly, often from fear or need.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: grab or grasp? grab or crab?
grab vs grasp
Grab is quick and sudden, while grasp is a firm hold and also means to understand an idea.
grab vs crab
A crab is a sea animal; the words look alike but differ in spelling and meaning.
Practice
When the bus braked suddenly, she ____ the pole to keep from falling.
Choose one answer.
Grabbed fits a sudden action. Gripped would suggest holding already, groped means feeling around, and grew does not make sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grab”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.