nabbed; nabbing

transitive verb

1
: to catch or seize in arrest : apprehend
2
: to seize suddenly

Examples of nab in a Sentence

We nabbed seats in the front row of the theater. the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This year, his luck may change after nabbing his fourth Oscar nomination (third in supporting) for A Complete Unknown. Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025 Baker nabbed the Directors Guild of America (DGA) award, but Corbet won Best Director at BAFTA. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025 Avila Beach nabbed top marks as a destination with clear skies, ample activities and a dazzling food and drink scene, according to HomeToGo. Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2025 The movie also nabbed the worst supporting actress Razzie for co-star Amy Schumer. Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nab

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of English dialect nap

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nab was in 1686

Cite this Entry

“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nab. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

nab

verb
nabbed; nabbing
1
: to seize and take into custody : arrest
2
: to seize suddenly
especially : steal entry 1 sense 2a

More from Merriam-Webster on nab

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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