Meaning & use
snatch
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To grab something quickly and often rudely or by force.
Grammar: Takes an object: snatch a bag.
Patterns
- snatch something from someone
- snatch at something
A thief snatched her phone and ran.
He snatched the letter from my hand.
The seagull snatched a chip from the table.
verbtransitive
To manage to get something, such as time or a chance, quickly before it is gone.
Grammar: Often with a short time word: snatch a nap.
Patterns
- snatch a moment
- snatch some sleep
- snatch victory
I snatched a few minutes of sleep on the train.
They snatched a win in the last minute.
She snatched a quick lunch between meetings.
nouncountable
A short piece of something, such as a conversation or song, heard or remembered.
Grammar: Usually followed by of: a snatch of song.
Patterns
- a snatch of something
We heard a snatch of music from the open window.
A snatch of conversation drifted over the wall.
She remembered only snatches of the dream.
nouncountable
A sudden act of grabbing something.
Grammar: Often used for a quick theft: a bag snatch.
Patterns
- make a snatch at something
He made a snatch at the paper but missed.
Police are investigating a phone snatch near the station.
The dog made a snatch at the sandwich.
Word forms
| third person singular | snatches |
|---|---|
| past tense | snatched |
| past participle | snatched |
| -ing form | snatching |
| plural | snatches |
Common combinations
- snatch a bag
- A man tried to snatch her bag.
- snatch a quick nap
- He snatched a quick nap in the car.
- snatch victory
- The team snatched victory in the final minute.
- snatch from someone's hand
- She snatched it from his hand.
- a snatch of conversation
- I overheard a snatch of conversation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grab
- Grab is the usual word for taking quickly, while snatch is a little sharper and suggests taking away.
- seize
- Seize is more formal and forceful, often used for power or control.
- swipe
- Swipe is informal and can mean steal quickly.
- pluck
- Pluck is a gentler, quick pull, often from a plant or string.
Opposites
Word family
- snatcher noun
- one who snatches, as in bag snatcher
- snatched adjective
- taken quickly
- snatching noun
- the act of grabbing
Commonly confused: snatch or snitch?
snatch vs snitch
Snitch means to tell on someone, or informally to steal something small, while snatch means to grab quickly.
Practice
I had no time for dinner, so I ___ a quick sandwich between meetings.
Choose one answer.
Snatched means managed to get something quickly. The other verbs are real but do not describe fitting in a meal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “snatch”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.