grab 1 of 2

verb

ˈgrab How to pronounce grab (audio)
Definition of grabnext
as in to snatch
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly don't grab my arm like that

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grab

2 of 2

noun

as in theft
an instance of theft a political activist who thinks the government's lease of public lands to logging companies amounts to an illegal land grab

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word grab different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of grab are clutch, grasp, seize, snatch, and take. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

When can clutch be used instead of grab?

Although the words clutch and grab have much in common, clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

In what contexts can grasp take the place of grab?

In some situations, the words grasp and grab are roughly equivalent. However, grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

Where would seize be a reasonable alternative to grab?

The words seize and grab can be used in similar contexts, but seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

How do snatch and seize relate to one another, in the sense of grab?

Snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

When could take be used to replace grab?

The words take and grab are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of grab
Verb
Fire Melvin and make the most controversial and headline-grabbing managerial hire in recent big-league history. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 4 May 2026 In the fourth round, the Chiefs grabbed Oregon defensive back Jadon Canady. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
Noun
Not a dine-in spot — this is grab-and-go for people who plan their trip around pizza. —Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026 Polls in Georgia’s Republican Senate race show the nomination is up for grabs. —Isaac Sabetai, AJC.com, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for grab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grab
  1. snatch
  2. theft
  3. seize
  4. snatching
  5. catch
  6. get
  7. capture
  8. land
Verb
  • Bain snatched the hat but marched defiantly straight to the stage to greet Goodell.
    — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
  • Anthony Stevens is accused of three chain-snatching robberies that happened on April 20 near the 1500 block of Martin Luther King Avenue, close to Long Beach Polytechnic High School.
    — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Definition of snatch
Noun
  • Jones has been charged with property theft, money laundering and evading arrest, police said.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
  • According to Village East co-op board vice president, Rachel, 57, a bookkeeper who asked to be identified by first name only, many building residents want a video intercom to prevent package theft and increase security.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of theft
Verb
  • That collapse is spurred not just by Napoleon, but also outside pressure from the human-run Pilkington Corporation, intent on reclaiming the freedom that these precious cartoon animals just seized.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of seize
Noun
  • His co-defendant Cristian Montecino-Sanzana pleaded guilty to two counts related to one of the three thefts that Bustamante Leiva admitted — an April 12 purse-snatching at a Nando's restaurant.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Many Londoners have firsthand experience of phone-snatching or have witnessed the surge in shoplifting documented by the Office for National Statistics.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of snatching
Verb
  • Overall, about half of children with the disease are infected during birth, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said, while others caught it from family members.
    — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
  • In 2023, the NCAA put in guidelines that punish athletes caught gambling on their own school, or other sports at their school, with a permanent loss of eligibility.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of catch
Verb
  • At the lone practice open to the media, Watson led the quarterback rotation in most drills, but Monken said the plan called for Sanders to get more reps overall.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026
  • There’s plenty of room to step back and get some perspective.
    — Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Definition of get
Verb
  • The one big missing piece was seeing her team finally capture an elusive state championship.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
  • One giant company trying to capture a single leader’s judgment and broadcast it across thousands of people.
    — Mukund Jha, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of capture
Verb
  • The airport authority has also been working for months with a consulting group to land another budget carrier.
    — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 2 May 2026
  • There was no indication of a mid-air collision, and a second aircraft traveling nearby landed safely in New Braunfels.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Definition of land

Phrases Containing grab

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gownsmen
grab
grab bag
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Cite this Entry

“Grab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grab. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on grab

Nglish: Translation of grab for Spanish Speakers

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