From Middle Dutch grabben or Middle Low German grabben (“to grasp, grab, seize, snatch”), from Old Saxon gravan, from Proto-West Germanic *grabbōn, a secondary form of Proto-Germanic *grabōną (“to gather, rake”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to gather, rake, grab, seize”).
Related to archaic German grappen (“to grab”), Danish grabbe (“to grab”), Swedish grabba (“to grab”), Old Norse grápa (“to seize, appropriate”), Middle English grappen (“to feel, grope, grasp, clutch”), Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”).
Related also to Sanskrit गृह्णाति (gṛhṇā́ti), गृभ्णाति (gṛbhṇā́ti, “he seizes”), Avestan 𐬔𐬭𐬀𐬠 (grab, “to seize”)), Macedonian грабне (grabne, “to snatch”), Bulgarian грабя (grabja, “to rob, to grab”).
Meanings
(countable) A sudden snatch at something.
The ball popped in and popped out, and when he made a grab for it on the ground he kicked it with his foot. 1931 April, Harold M. Sherman, “The Baseball Clown”, in Boys' Life, volume 21, number 4, Boy Scouts of America, page 47:
He made a grab for me and I swung my handbag at him as hard as I could. 2003, J Davey, Six Years of Darkness, Trafford Publishing, page 66:
(countable) An acquisition by violent or unjust means.
(countable) A mechanical device that grabs or clutches.
Almost all modern cranes are electrically operated and a quick-acting type of 30 cwt. capacity is suitable for general cargo, but not powerful enough to operate grabs for discharge of bulk cargoes. 1945 January and February, T. F. Cameron, “Dock Working”, in Railway Magazine, page 11:
(countable, uncountable) A mechanical device that grabs or clutches. ▸ A device for withdrawing drills, etc., from artesian and other wells that are drilled, bored, or driven.
(countable) A sound bite.
For example, one radio bulletin may feature one central issue, like a state election, and will focus on that issue. The bulletin might contain only a few voice wraps but many grabs, leaving the focus firmly on the newsreader. 2008, Melissa Agnew, Here is the (Australian) News:
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) That which is seized.
(countable, slang, uncountable) The rescue of a person from a burning structure.
There have been many rescues made as a result of an aggressive search team who went in without a hoseline to make the grab. 2022, Mark van der Feyst, Matt Wehrle, Rob Wiggins, The Tactical Firefighter:
(uncountable) A simple card game.
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grabs
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Deriveds
grab handle (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · bash and grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabpole (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab ass (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · smash-and-grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · misgrab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab bar (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab-ass (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · landgrab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabby (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabrail (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · cash grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · a drowning man will grab at straws (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab the headlines (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabbable (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabble (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab hold (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab some Z's (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · smash and grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabfest (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab game (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · a drowning man will grab at a straw (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab life by the balls (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · screengrab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab-and-go (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · regrab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab some Zs (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabful (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · pregrab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab and go (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab life by the throat (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab and run (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · take a grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab some pine (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab life by the horns (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab by the short hairs (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab bag (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab some air (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabass (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab one's ankles (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · handgrab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · up for grabs (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab bucket (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab at straws (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · money-grabbing (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · wreck grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab hag (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · double grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab some z's (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab hoe (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · make a grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab-bag (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grabber (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab off (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab the popcorn (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab the bull by the horns (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab by the lapels (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · snatch and grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · land grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab rail (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · power grab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab at a straw (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab sample (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · ungrab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · cashgrab (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · attention-grabbing (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab iron (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab box (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grapple (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab at (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech)) · grab by the horns (Terms derived from grab (all parts of speech))
it presa (the act of grabbing something or someone) · ca agafament (the act of grabbing something or someone) · uk захва́т (the act of grabbing something or someone) · hu megragadás (the act of grabbing something or someone) · hu megfogás (the act of grabbing something or someone) · bg хващане (the act of grabbing something or someone) · bg сграбчване (the act of grabbing something or someone) · it ruspa (a mechanical device that grabs) · hu markológép (a mechanical device that grabs) · sq kapëse (a mechanical device that grabs) · pt agarrador (a mechanical device that grabs) · ar قَبْض (the act of grabbing something or someone) · de Greifer (a mechanical device that grabs) · sq kapje (the act of grabbing something or someone) · az zəbt (the act of grabbing something or someone) · ca agafador (a mechanical device that grabs) · bg екскаватор (a mechanical device that grabs) · ru захва́т (the act of grabbing something or someone) · fi tarttuminen (the act of grabbing something or someone) · it benna (a mechanical device that grabs) · pl chwytak (a mechanical device that grabs) · it appiglio (the act of grabbing something or someone) · fi koura (a mechanical device that grabs) · it calamita (a mechanical device that grabs) · ru захва́т (a mechanical device that grabs) · ar مَسْك (the act of grabbing something or someone) · it accaparramento (the act of grabbing something or someone) · pt agarramento (the act of grabbing something or someone) · uk захо́плення (the act of grabbing something or someone)
From Middle Dutch grabben or Middle Low German grabben (“to grasp, grab, seize, snatch”), from Old Saxon gravan, from Proto-West Germanic *grabbōn, a secondary form of Proto-Germanic *grabōną (“to gather, rake”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to gather, rake, grab, seize”).
Related to archaic German grappen (“to grab”), Danish grabbe (“to grab”), Swedish grabba (“to grab”), Old Norse grápa (“to seize, appropriate”), Middle English grappen (“to feel, grope, grasp, clutch”), Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”).
Related also to Sanskrit गृह्णाति (gṛhṇā́ti), गृभ्णाति (gṛbhṇā́ti, “he seizes”), Avestan 𐬔𐬭𐬀𐬠 (grab, “to seize”)), Macedonian грабне (grabne, “to snatch”), Bulgarian грабя (grabja, “to rob, to grab”).
Meanings
(transitive) To grip suddenly; to seize; to clutch.
I grabbed her hand to pull her back from the cliff edge.
Old Applegate, in the stern, just set and looked at me, and Lord James, amidship, waved both arms and kept hollering for help. I took a couple of everlasting big strokes and managed to grab hold of the skiff's rail, close to the stern. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
(intransitive) To make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something).
Stop grabbing or I won't give you any cookies.
The suspect suddenly broke free and grabbed at the policeman's gun.
To restrain someone; to arrest.
(transitive) To grip the attention of; to enthrall or interest.
How does that idea grab you?
Baby, instant soup doesn't really grab me
Today I need something more substantial 1992, “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite”, in Automatic for the People, performed by R.E.M.:
(informal) To quickly collect, retrieve, or take.
He looked at Albert and Ben, and then back to Nurse Allen. "I'll just grab my gear and be right back." 2009, Mike Taylor, A Thousand Sleeps,, Tate Publishing, page 216:
Hardly believing that Rafe actually planned to relax for a while, Kate nodded. "All right. Fine. I'll just go grab my purse." 1999, Jillian Dagg, Racing Hearts, Thomas Bouregy & Co., page 105:
Come in and grab a seat [i.e. sit down].
"I'll just grab my jacket," said Manh-Hung. 1987, James Grady, Just a Shot Away, Bantam, page 117:
(informal) To consume something quickly.
Is there time to grab a coffee?
We'll just grab a sandwich and then we'll be on our way.
To take the opportunity of.
Both teams wasted good opportunities to score but it was the London side who did grab what proved to be the decisive third when the unmarked Vaz Te, a January signing from Barnsley, drilled the ball into the net from 12 yards. 2012 May 19, Paul Fletcher, “Blackpool 1-2 West Ham”, in BBC Sport:
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grabs
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
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grabbed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
grabbed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
grabbing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
Translations (156)
rup prindu ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · kea rebatá ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · hu elragad ((transitive) to seize) · ru хвата́ть ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · pt agarrar ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · fi vangita (to grip the attention; to enthrall) · th คว้า ((transitive) to seize) · uk схо́плювати ((transitive) to seize) · es asir ((transitive) to seize) · bg задържам (to restrain someone; to arrest) · la capio ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · sq za ((transitive) to seize) · sv ta tag i ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · mwl agarrar ((transitive) to seize) · fi tarttua ((transitive) to seize) · nn ta ((transitive) to seize) · grc ἁρπάζω ((transitive) to seize) · it agguantare ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · tr tevkif etmek (to restrain someone; to arrest) · fa گرفتن ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · sv arrestera (to restrain someone; to arrest) · uk схопи́ти ((transitive) to seize) · ar مَسَكَ ((transitive) to seize) · es apercollar ((transitive) to seize) · it catturare (to grip the attention; to enthrall) · bn ধরা ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · pl porywać ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · la sumo ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · sv ta ((transitive) to seize) · eo ekkapti ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · cs uchopit ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · frr gripe ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · mi rarau ((transitive) to seize) · sc aggaffare ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · shn ၺွပ်း ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · it avvincere (to grip the attention; to enthrall) · oc agafar ((transitive) to seize) · az qapmaq ((transitive) to seize) · qu chariy ((transitive) to seize) · pt deter (to restrain someone; to arrest) · es coger ((transitive) to seize) · gug pyhy ((transitive) to seize) · pt pegar ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · it afferrare ((transitive) to seize) · mi nao ((transitive) to seize) · it cogliere ((transitive) to seize) · it afferrare ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · bg сграбчвам ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · it interessare (to grip the attention; to enthrall) · tl kunin ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · nn ta tak i ((transitive) to seize) · pl złapać ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · got 𐌲𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍀𐌰𐌽 ((transitive) to seize) · it acchiappare (to restrain someone; to arrest) · izh hakkiissa ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · fr empoigner ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · ru схвати́ть (to restrain someone; to arrest) · nb ta tak i ((transitive) to seize) · mi aurara ((transitive) to seize) · nb gripe ((transitive) to seize) · he תָּפַס ((transitive) to seize) · mi kōwhakiwhaki ((transitive) to seize) · mi kapokapo ((transitive) to seize) · ru схвати́ть ((transitive) to seize) · sq za (gheg) ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · ang grīpan ((transitive) to seize) · arz مسك ((transitive) to seize) · tr yakalamak ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · rup apuc ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · mi mamau ((transitive) to seize) · tr yakalamak (to restrain someone; to arrest) · ru арестова́ть (to restrain someone; to arrest) · mi nanao ((transitive) to seize) · tr ele geçirmek (to restrain someone; to arrest) · ru схва́тывать ((transitive) to seize) · sv gripa ((transitive) to seize) · mwl agarrar ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · kea rabata ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · de greifen ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · ru схва́тывать ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · ja 掴む ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · it acciuffare (to restrain someone; to arrest) · fi tarrata ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · sc afferrài ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · ru захва́тывать (to grip the attention; to enthrall) · sv gripa ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · qu hap'iy ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · es apergollar ((transitive) to seize) · qu chariy ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · it attirare (to grip the attention; to enthrall) · mi apo ((transitive) to seize) · pl wyrywać ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · sq ze ((transitive) to seize) · bg завладявам (to grip the attention; to enthrall) · fi napata ((transitive) to seize) · wni husika ((transitive) to seize) · sq rrëmbej ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · ru хвата́ть (to restrain someone; to arrest) · es agarrar ((transitive) to seize) · ca agafar ((transitive) to seize) · bg улавям ((transitive) to seize) · km ប្រវា ((transitive) to seize) · pt prender (to restrain someone; to arrest) · bg хващам ((transitive) to seize) · fi tarttua ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · eo preni ((transitive) to seize) · nl grijpen ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · fr saisir ((transitive) to seize) · mhr авалташ ((transitive) to seize) · shn ယွပ်း ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · sq nza (gheg) (to restrain someone; to arrest) · vi chộp lấy ((transitive) to seize) · sv gripa (to restrain someone; to arrest) · it trattenere (to restrain someone; to arrest) · fi siepata ((transitive) to seize) · fi pidättää (to restrain someone; to arrest) · fi vangita (to restrain someone; to arrest) · da gribe ((transitive) to seize) · km ខ្ទប ((transitive) to seize) · tr kapmak ((transitive) to seize) · sdc agguantà ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · cs chytit ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · pl powstrzymać (to restrain someone; to arrest) · lv sagrābt ((transitive) to seize) · sdn affarrà ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · sh oteti ((transitive) to seize) · de greifen ((transitive) to seize) · bg арестувам (to restrain someone; to arrest) · sq kap (to grip the attention; to enthrall) · it arraffare ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · tr kabzetmek ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · mi hiko ((transitive) to seize) · kmr girtin ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · tl arestuhin (to restrain someone; to arrest) · fr attraper ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · cmn 抓住 ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · nb ta ((transitive) to seize) · it agguantare ((transitive) to seize) · sv grabba ((transitive) to seize) · ru хвата́ть ((transitive) to seize) · ru схвати́ть ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · sq kap (to restrain someone; to arrest) · la prehendo ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · pl chwytać ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · ar قَبَضَ ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · nn gripa ((transitive) to seize) · it arrestare (to restrain someone; to arrest) · la rapiō ((transitive) to seize) · ota آوجلامق ((transitive) to seize) · it catturare (to restrain someone; to arrest) · tl kunin ((transitive) to seize) · mi mamau ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something)) · eu heldu ((transitive) to seize) · pt agarrar ((transitive) to seize) · hu megragad ((transitive) to seize) · ro apuca ((intransitive) to make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something))