to grasp

Examples

• All

• The fourth reached out his arms and grasped one of the elephant's legs.

  Academic text (2013)

• It's very hard to grasp a point and hold you to it.

• And the secret to life, and this is so hard to grasp, is to just be yourself.

• It's impossible to stop once you grasp that fact.

• This is my research question and I'm hoping that this paper will help you grasp that research question.

• We must have the courage to grasp it.

  The Postman (1997)

• A teacher's focus on nonfiction may help students grasp more clearly the reality and enormity of the Holocaust.

  Academic text (1996)

• The blade was bigger than I had expected, and I grasped the black handle firmly in my fist.

  Fiction book (1991)

• And then he grasped my hands and started softly sobbing.

  To the New Girl (2020)

• He reached out and grasped the rope tightly to avoid falling.

Synonyms

G

to grab

vsto grasp

∞ 1.0

To take hold of something quickly with your hand

is a steadier, not necessarily rapid, manual action

P

to pick up

vsto grasp

834 1.0

To lift something or someone from the ground with your hands

is securing something firmly rather than only lifting it

C

to cling

vsto grasp

240 2.1

To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go

is a brief firm action rather than continuous attachment

H

to hold onto

vsto grasp

180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

is the physical securing action, not focused on preserving ownership

H

to hold on

vsto grasp

141 2.0

To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall

is a single firm action rather than ongoing support

S

to squeeze

vsto grasp

119 1.6

To press something firmly with your hand or fingers

is firm securing without primary focus on pressing pressure

C

to clutch

vsto grasp

118 3.4

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

is firm physical contact without emotional urgency

G

to grip

vsto grasp

85 1.3

To hold something or someone tightly, often to keep them safe

is the simple firm hand action without struggle emphasis

C

to cling to

vsto grasp

61 3.4

To hold tightly to someone or something because of fear, need, affection

is a concise firm hand action without ongoing clinging

H

to hold tight

vsto grasp

• Informal

42 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

is a firm action but not always for safety reasons

G

to get hold of

vsto grasp

24 2.5

To take something in your hand

is the simple physical securing action, not about obtaining ownership

T

to take hold of

vsto grasp

21 3.1

Grab something or someone with your hands

is the general action of keeping something firmly with the hands

T

to take hold

vsto grasp

15 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

is the general action of keeping something firmly with the hands

P

to prehend

vsto grasp

• Archaic

9.9

To take and hold something with a hand or tail

is the everyday, nontechnical action of keeping something firmly

L

to latch on

vsto grasp

3.8

To hold on to something so it stays attached

is an active hand action rather than passive attachment

Antonyms

R

to release

∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

L

to let go

∞ 1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

Idioms

G

to grasp the nettle

• Informal

1 8.2

Face a difficult problem directly and act firmly

G

to grasp a rope of sand

• Archaic

9.9

To try to do something that cannot be done

How Tight

to grasp

60 1.1

to squeeze

119 1.6

to touch

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology