grabbed; grabbing
1
: to take or seize by or as if by a sudden motion or grasp
grab up an ax
grabbed the opportunity
grab attention
2
: to take hastily
grab a bite to eat
grab a cab
3
a
: to seize the attention of
the technique of grabbing an audience—
Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael
b
: to impress favorably and deeply
4
: to obtain without consideration of what is right or wrong
grab public lands
: to make a sudden snatch
grabber
noun
1
a
: a sudden snatch
b
: an unlawful or unethical seizure
a grab for power
c
: something taken, seized, or grasped suddenly
2
1
: intended to be taken, seized, or grasped suddenly
a grab rail
2
: taken at random
grab samples of rocks
Synonyms
Examples of grab in a Sentence
Verb
I have to go back in the house and grab my car keys.
The little boy grabbed onto his mother's leg and wouldn't let go.
I'll grab a taxi and meet you there.
Let's grab a bite to eat before the movie starts.
The store had a lot of nice stuff, but nothing really grabbed me.
The play grabs the audience from the opening scene.
One player in particular has been grabbing a lot of attention lately.
Noun
a political activist who thinks the government's lease of public lands to logging companies amounts to an illegal land grab
Recent Examples on the Web
Zachery Eanes, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
At one point, the man allegedly told Combs to grab a white bird from a cage that the man had presumably brought with him.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
As the nation decides its next president, among other positions of power up for grabs on Election Day, one key message will be repeatedly instilled until the election is over.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grab 
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The addition will mean RTP will continue to have a place to grab barbecue after Lawrence Barbecue's owners decided to leave Boxyard RTP for downtown Cary.
—Zachery Eanes, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
At one point, the man allegedly told Combs to grab a white bird from a cage that the man had presumably brought with him.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Noun
That means more than 1,000 bottles will be up for grabs — for gifting, collecting, or Christmas season sipping — around the state.
—Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
As the nation decides its next president, among other positions of power up for grabs on Election Day, one key message will be repeatedly instilled until the election is over.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grab
Dictionary Entries Near grab
Cite this Entry
“Grab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grab. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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