grab

UK: /ˈgræb/ US: /græb/ ,(grab)

Inflections of 'grab' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

grabs

v 3rd person singular

grabbing

v pres p

grabbed

v past

grabbed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

grab¹ /græb/   v., grabbed, grab•bing, n. 
v. 

1. to seize suddenly, eagerly, or roughly;
   snatch: [~ + object]
   He grabbed his hat and dashed off.
   [~ + at + object]
   She grabbed at the railing.
2. to take possession of (something) illegally:
   [~ + object] to grab land.
3. to obtain and consume quickly:
   [~ + object] Let's grab a sandwich.
4. Slang Terms [Informal.] to arouse the interest or excitement of:
   [~ + object] How does my idea grab you?
5. [no object] (of brakes, a clutch, etc.) to take hold suddenly or with a jolting motion.

n. [countable]

6. a sudden, eager grasp or snatch:
   I made a grab for my hat.
7. seizure or takeover by violent, illegal, or dishonest means:
   land grabs.

Idioms

[be + ~]
8. Idioms up for grabs, available for anyone to take, use, or buy.

grab•ber, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

grab¹  (grab), v., grabbed, grab•bing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to seize suddenly or quickly;
   snatch;
   clutch:
   He grabbed me by the collar.
2. to take illegal possession of;
   seize forcibly or unscrupulously:
   to grab land.
3. to obtain and consume quickly:
   Let's grab a sandwich before going to the movie.
4. Slang Terms
   • to cause a reaction in;
     affect:
     How does my idea grab you?
   • to arouse the interest or excitement of:
     The book was O.K., but it just didn't grab me.

v.i. 

5. to make a grasping or clutching motion (usually fol. by at):
   He grabbed frantically at the life preserver.
6. (of brakes, a clutch, etc.) to take hold suddenly or with a jolting motion;
   bind.

n. 

7. a sudden, quick grasp or snatch:
   to make a grab at something.
8. seizure or acquisition by violent or unscrupulous means.
9. something that is grabbed.
10. a mechanical device for gripping objects.
11. the capacity to hold or adhere:
    The glue was so old it had lost its grab.
12. Idioms up for grabs, [Informal.] available to anyone willing to expend the energy to get it:
    The Republican nomination for mayor was up for grabs.

• cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German grabben, Swedish grabba 1580–90

grab′ba•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. grasp, grip, catch.

grab²  (grab), n. 

1. an Oriental ship having two or three masts with a square rig.

• Arabic ghurāb literally, raven
• 1670–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grab / ɡræb/ verb (grabs, grabbing, grabbed)

1. to seize hold of (something)
2. (transitive) to seize illegally or unscrupulously
3. (transitive) to arrest; catch
4. (transitive) to catch the attention or interest of; impress

noun

1. the act or an instance of grabbing
2. a mechanical device for gripping objects, esp the hinged jaws of a mechanical excavator
3. something that is grabbed

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch grabben; related to Swedish grabba, Sanskrit grbhnāti he seizes

ˈgrabber noun