Meaning & use

stab

verb·Everyday

Last updated

To pierce or wound something with a pointed object.

See it in a sentence

He accidentally stabbed his finger while chopping vegetables.

The knife stabbed straight through the cardboard box.

A note on using this word

The phrase "take a stab at" is a common idiom meaning to make an attempt, even without any confidence of succeeding.

Words with a similar meaning

pierce

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

(informal) An attempt or guess at something.

I'll take a stab at answering the riddle.

Make it your own

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