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Glite Dictionary
✋ To take quickly 🦹 To seize illegally 👀 To attract strongly ✋ A fast catch 🤖 A gripping device
to grab

to grab

∞ 1.0
To take hold of something quickly with your hand
  • verb
  • /ɡræb/
: agarrar
  • She quickly grabbed her bag when she saw the bus arriving.
  • grab hold of
  • grab someone's hand
  • pushing and grabbing

So again, I'm going to grab the front piece.

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Examples

  • Dave turned away, but felt a hand grab his elbow and turn him around.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • You should just be able to grab these cords like that.

    Rick Beato

  • Yes, I have to grab both sides, front and back.

  • - We'll grab it when it gets close.

    Fall (2022)

  • Step to the side, grab, squeeze and pull.

  • So again, I'm going to grab the front piece.

    Carli Bybel

  • Keith, I'm going to need you to grab the rain stick.

  • Grab a drink and grab a snack and let's chat.

  • I'll just grab it and I'll meet you at the fire pit?

    Theater Camp (2023)

  • So grab a meal, grab a snack, and let's chat.

    Carli Bybel

Synonyms

to catch
vsto grab
∞ 1.0

To take hold of a moving person or thing to stop it

is quick too but also fits static objects
to pick up
vsto grab
∞ 1.0

To lift something or someone from the ground with your hands

is more sudden and eager than casual lifting
to seize
vsto grab
399 3.2

To take control of a place or person quickly, often by force

is sudden as well but usually less about force
to clutch
vsto grab
115 3.4

To hold something tightly with the hands or because of strong feeling

is about quick taking, not sustained tight holding
to get hold of
vsto grab
104 2.5

To take something in your hand

is quicker and more sudden than simply obtaining
to scoop up
vsto grab
63 2.8

To lift or pick up something quickly with your hand

shares speed but lacks the cupped hand shape
to snatch up
vsto grab
36 4.6

To grab something quickly, often before someone else

is quick too but often less purely eager
to snap
vsto grab
36 1.6

Grab something quickly with a sudden motion

is sudden as well but can be less sharp
to take hold of
vsto grab
32 3.1

Grab something or someone with your hands

is quicker and more sudden rather than deliberate
to snap up
vsto grab
21 3.7

Buy something quickly before other people do

means quick physical taking rather than buying or securing
to take hold
vsto grab
20 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

is more sudden and less planned than deliberate grasping
to swoop up
vsto grab
3 4.2

Pick something up quickly by moving down fast

is quick too but not tied to sweeping motions
to snaffle
vsto grab
  • UK
1 8.5

To take something quickly often before others notice

is quick too but does not imply sneakiness
to snatch the opportunity
vsto grab
1 3.9

To take a chance quickly before other people do

is about quick physical taking rather than seizing chances
to prehend
vsto grab
  • Archaic
9.9

To take and hold something with a hand or tail

is everyday language for quick, sudden hand taking

Antonyms

to drop
∞ 1.0

To let something fall suddenly or by accident

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

Idioms

to grab life by the balls
  • Offensive
2 9.9

Act boldly and take control of your life

to grab the bull by the horns
  • Informal
1 6.3

Face a difficult problem directly and bravely

to grab life by the horns
  • Informal
1 7.4

To be brave and take control of your life

to grab the popcorn
  • Texting
1 7.7

To get ready to watch something exciting or dramatic

to grab life by the throat
  • Informal
8.5

To act quickly and boldly to make the most of life

Phrasal Verbs

to grab coffee
  • Informal
38 1.6

Quickly buy a cup of coffee, often to meet someone briefly

to grab a bite
  • Informal
33 2.9

Eat a quick meal when you are busy or in a hurry

to grab a coffee
  • Informal
25 2.4

To buy a cup of coffee quickly as a short break

to grab someone's attention
23 3.3

Make someone notice something quickly and feel interested

to grab lunch
  • Informal
22 2.6

Eat lunch quickly without planning

to grab dinner
  • Informal
21 2.5

Eat dinner quickly, often without planning

to grab the wheel
8 5.0

To suddenly take control of a steering wheel in an emergency

to grab a sandwich
  • Informal
5 1.4

To get and eat a sandwich quickly as a simple meal

to grab waddy
  • Australian
9.9

To take hold of a stick or tool quickly and firmly

Compounds

grab bag
  • Informal
7 4.1

A collection of different small items chosen at random

grab bar
  • US
4 3.4

A strong bar attached to a wall that you hold for support, often in a bathroom

cash grab
  • Literature
1 6.5

A product or action made mainly to get money quickly with little care for quality

grab and go
1 3.7

Food or drinks you buy to eat quickly away from a shop

grab sample
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A single test taken at one time to show current conditions

grab hag
  • Slur
1 9.9

A person who pushes to take more attention or things than is fair

How Forceful

to seize
399 3.2
to snatch
192 3.0
to grab
∞ 1.0
to grasp
84 1.1

Surface Forms

grab infinitive
grabbed past
grabbed past participle
grabbing present participle
grabs third person singular

Etymology

Grab comes from an old Norse word gripa meaning 'to seize', so to grab something is to take hold of it suddenly, like giving it a quick grip.