as in seizes
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
don't grab my arm like that
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Recent Examples of grabs
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
So, pay attention to what grabs your attention now, because the cosmos could be delivering a message through the most random interaction, TikTok scroll or overheard conversation.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
This is one of those crackerjack stories with great characters that grabs you right from the start and doesn’t let go for a minute.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Loading and Security Bicycles are held in place with a rear-tire strap and a big loop that grabs the front tire.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 13 May 2026
San Juan del Sur is a little beach town that grabs your heart in a big way.
—Essence, 13 May 2026
Martha frequently grabs a bowl for serving dinner or peruses a favorite cookbook.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
DeVaux reaches down beneath her seat and grabs a black folder.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
And if no candidate grabs a majority in either of those races, this district’s voters might have to go to the polls four times.
—East Bay Times Editorial Board, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
And LePage’s race in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, as well as House races overall, offers a good laboratory for Vance’s style of politics — there’s even an electoral vote in the state up for grabs in 2028.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
In theory, a district today that was easily won by a Republican could become up for grabs if redistricting adds blue voters for the 2028 election cycle.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 14 May 2026
There are 41 seats up for grabs in the parliamentary vote, which pits the governing Progressive Liberal Party and its leader, Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, against the main opposition Free National Movement and its leader, Michael Pintard.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
The show will feature five matches with two titles up for grabs – the World Heavyweight Championship and the United States Championship.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
There's more than one big lottery prize up for grabs this weekend.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 8 May 2026
In a film remake, even the text is up for grabs.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
That vibe lives on at Jacaranda, with just 30 seats up for grabs, including a six-seat communal table.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 7 May 2026
Verb
Next, Beth grabs her father's hat, perched on a stand next to the photograph.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
So, pay attention to what grabs your attention now, because the cosmos could be delivering a message through the most random interaction, TikTok scroll or overheard conversation.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
This is one of those crackerjack stories with great characters that grabs you right from the start and doesn’t let go for a minute.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Loading and Security Bicycles are held in place with a rear-tire strap and a big loop that grabs the front tire.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 13 May 2026
San Juan del Sur is a little beach town that grabs your heart in a big way.
—Essence, 13 May 2026
Martha frequently grabs a bowl for serving dinner or peruses a favorite cookbook.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
DeVaux reaches down beneath her seat and grabs a black folder.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
And if no candidate grabs a majority in either of those races, this district’s voters might have to go to the polls four times.
—East Bay Times Editorial Board, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Noun
The many Fed Ex points (700) up for grabs that weekend?
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
And LePage’s race in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, as well as House races overall, offers a good laboratory for Vance’s style of politics — there’s even an electoral vote in the state up for grabs in 2028.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
In theory, a district today that was easily won by a Republican could become up for grabs if redistricting adds blue voters for the 2028 election cycle.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 14 May 2026
There are 41 seats up for grabs in the parliamentary vote, which pits the governing Progressive Liberal Party and its leader, Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, against the main opposition Free National Movement and its leader, Michael Pintard.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
The show will feature five matches with two titles up for grabs – the World Heavyweight Championship and the United States Championship.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
There's more than one big lottery prize up for grabs this weekend.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 8 May 2026
In a film remake, even the text is up for grabs.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
That vibe lives on at Jacaranda, with just 30 seats up for grabs, including a six-seat communal table.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grabs
Verb
-
Dean seizes the moment to confess his feelings for Allie, hoping to turn their friends-with-benefits arrangement into something more.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
The chef Brooks Headley seizes the day every day, showing us that vegetables are canny, capricious characters, capable of anything.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Young vandals have been suspected in a slew of subway thefts in recent months.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Police arrested Boswell on Christmas Eve in connection with 18 thefts at the store on the 1100 block of Columbus Avenue in North Beach.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Dubbed the Velvet Gang, the trio snatches the overpriced, often monochromatic fashion threads designed by Christie Smith (Demi Moore, in a performance of comedic genius), a pretentious piece of work who stations herself in a leaning building (wink, win to San Francisco there).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
-
When the Mafia snatches her anyway, his PTSD returns and launches him on a dark path to vengeance.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Power—the explosive, fast-twitch capacity that catches you mid-fall—goes first.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
15 May 2026
-
All this will come to the fore when Apple eventually sorts out its own AI strategy and catches iPhone up with other platforms.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Word with Copilot drafts and summarizes documents; Teams with Copilot generates meeting summaries and captures action items; and Excel with Copilot handles data analysis useful for damages calculations and billing.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Flock Safety's license plate reader technology captures vehicle information, including license plates and vehicle characteristics such as make, model and color on the property.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The neighborhood/area Brickell gets a bad rep among visitors as Miami Beach’s boring, business-minded sibling, but a quick walk from the hotel will reveal the up-and-coming neighborhood to be an energizing community lined with vibrant (and clean) shops, restaurants, and bars.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
Favreau, working from a script co-authored with Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni and Book of Boba Fett writer Noah Kloor, gets the action going in the first few minutes, as if to reassure fans that the leap to the big screen means something.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
But within the context of ESSENCE Festival, the conversation lands differently.—
Essence,
Essence,
13 May 2026
-
The push lands MacFarlane on this year’s Emmy ballot in nine distinct capacities.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grabs. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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