to grab

Examples

• All

• The movie's plot twist really grabbed my attention and kept me on the edge of my seat.

• And it's, it's an emotive way to grab people's attention.

• I mean, you know, you gotta grab them in the first few seconds.

  Mafia Mamma (2023)

• I know that, but I want the first one to grab 'em!

  Effects (1979)

• Some teachers tell stories about their lives in order to grab students' attention.

  Academic text (2010)

• The verbal strategies that teachers used to grab students' attention in this study were similar to one another.

  Academic text (2010)

• Impact is experienced when something in the photograph grabs and holds the viewer's attention.

  Academic text (1996)

• Only one woman, however, had grabbed my attention as an important long-form journalist: Joan Didion.

  Academic text (2009)

• High-profile outbreaks of infectious disease grab the public's attention and often fuel our risk perceptions.

  Academic text (2004)

• The advertisement is designed to grab viewers' attention within the first few seconds.

Synonyms

C

to catch

vsto grab

278 2.0

To get someone's attention or interest

is more sudden and forceful rather than gradual or mild

C

to capture

vsto grab

75 3.0

To attract and hold someone's interest or affection

is more about a sudden, forceful taking rather than steady holding

C

to catch someone's attention

vsto grab

38 2.8

Make someone notice you or something

is stronger and more sudden than this general attraction

G

to grip

vsto grab

36 6.0

To hold someone's attention or emotions strongly

is more about sudden forceful capture rather than freezing effect

S

to sweep up

vsto grab

31 5.8

To get carried into a situation and take part without meaning to

is an abrupt, forceful pull on attention rather than gradual involvement

C

to capture attention

vsto grab

23 3.2

To attract and keep people's interest

is quicker and more forceful instead of sustained and steady

G

to grab someone's attention

vsto grab

23 3.3

Make someone notice something quickly and feel interested

is the same meaning but expressed as a sudden, forceful phrase

G

to get hold of

vsto grab

20 3.4

To feel a strong emotion suddenly that controls you

focuses more on external forcefully grabbing attention than internal takeover

S

to seize

vsto grab

12 3.8

Grab and hold someone's attention suddenly and strongly

is equally sudden and forceful but more informal in tone

S

to snag one's attention

vsto grab

4.4

Make someone notice something

is similar but more forceful and deliberately sudden

Antonyms

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

D

to dismiss

296 3.0

To refuse to accept an idea or claim

Idioms

G

to grab life by the balls

• Offensive

2 9.9

Act boldly and take control of your life

G

to grab the bull by the horns

• Informal

1 6.3

Face a difficult problem directly and bravely

G

to grab life by the horns

• Informal

1 7.4

To be brave and take control of your life

G

to grab the popcorn

• Texting

1 7.7

To get ready to watch something exciting or dramatic

G

to grab life by the throat

• Informal

8.5

To act quickly and boldly to make the most of life

Phrasal Verbs

G

to grab coffee

• Informal

38 1.6

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

G

to grab a bite

• Informal

33 2.9

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

G

to grab a coffee

• Informal

25 2.4

To buy a cup of coffee quickly as a short break

G

to grab someone's attention

23 3.3

Make someone notice something quickly and feel interested

G

to grab lunch

• Informal

22 2.6

Eat lunch quickly without planning

G

to grab dinner

• Informal

21 2.5

Eat dinner quickly, often without planning

G

to grab the wheel

8 5.0

To suddenly take control of a steering wheel in an emergency

G

to grab a sandwich

• Informal

5 1.4

To get and eat a sandwich quickly as a simple meal

G

to grab waddy

• Australian

9.9

To take hold of a stick or tool quickly and firmly

Compounds

G

grab bag

• Informal

7 4.1

A collection of different small items chosen at random

G

grab bar

• US

4 3.4

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

C

cash grab

• Literature

1 6.5

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

G

grab and go

1 3.7

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

G

grab sample

• Specialized

1 5.9

A single test taken at one time to show current conditions

G

grab hag

• Slur

1 9.9

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

How Attention-Grabbing

to spellbind

1 7.0

to captivate

28 4.2

to grab

69 1.6

to catch

278 2.0

to interest

189 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology