grab
[verb]
Synonyms: snatch, capture, catch, catch or take hold of, clutch, grasp, grip, pluck, seize, snap up

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English Thesaurus: hold, grip, clutch, clasp, get/take hold of something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. grab¹ S2 W3 /ɡræb/ verb (past tense and past participle grabbed, present participle grabbing) [transitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: Middle Low German grabben]

1. WITH YOUR HAND to take hold of someone or something with a sudden or violent movement Synonym : snatch:
I grabbed my bag and ran off.
Two men grabbed her and pushed her to the ground.
Kay grabbed hold of my arm to stop herself falling.
grab something from somebody/something
I managed to grab the gun from Bowen.

2. FOOD/SLEEP informal to get some food or sleep quickly because you are busy Synonym : snatch:
Why don’t you go and grab some sleep?
Hang on while I grab a cup of coffee.
Let’s grab a bite to eat before we go.

3. GET SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF to get something for yourself, sometimes in an unfair way:
Try to get there early and grab good seats.
Bob tried to grab all the profit.

4. CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY (also grab at something) informal to take an opportunity, accept an invitation etc immediately:
I think you should grab your chance to travel while you’re young.
She grabbed the opportunity to go to America.
Melanie grabbed at the invitation to go.
This is our chance to grab a slice of this new market.

5. GET ATTENTION to get someone’s attention:
The book is full of good ideas to grab your students’ attention.
The plight of the refugees immediately grabbed the headlines (=was the most important story in the newspapers).

6. how does something grab you? spoken used to ask someone if they would be interested in doing a particular thing:
How does the idea of a trip to Spain grab you?
grab at/for something phrasal verb
to quickly and suddenly put out your hand to try and catch or get something:
I grabbed at the glass just before it fell.
Lucy grabbed for the money.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. grab² noun

1. make a grab for/at something to suddenly try to take hold of something:
As soon as he turned his back, I made a grab for the revolver.

2. be up for grabs informal if a job, prize, opportunity etc is up for grabs, it is available for anyone who wants to try to have it

3. [countable] the act of getting something quickly, especially in a dishonest way:
a shameless power grab to eliminate opposition
Officials denounced the settlers’ land grab.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

grab
verb
ADV. suddenly
VERB + GRAB try to | manage to He managed to grab a couple of hours' sleep.
PREP. at I grabbed at his arm as he ran past.
by As he walked past the boys, one of them grabbed him by the arm.
from Somebody tried to grab her handbag from her.
PHRASES grab hold of sth He grabbed hold of a handrail to save himself from falling.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

hold to have something in your hand, hands, or arms:
Maria came in holding a letter.
Can I hold the baby?
grip to hold something very tightly and not let it go:
He gripped her arm so she couldn’t walk away.
Jenny gripped the side of the boat to steady herself.
clutch to hold something tightly, especially because you do not want to drop or lose it:
A businessman hurried past, clutching his briefcase.
The little girl clutched onto his hand.
clasp written to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them:
She was clasping a bunch of small summer flowers.
He clasped her in his arms and kissed her.
get/take hold of something to take something in your hand or hands and hold it:
I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could.
Quickly – try and get hold of that frog!
grasp written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way:
She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
grab to take hold of something suddenly and often violently:
He grabbed my bag and ran off with it.
The other man grabbed hold of (=suddenly took hold of ) my arms and threatened me with a knife.
seize /siːz/ written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently:
A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
hang on (to something) to hold on to something or someone tightly to support yourself:
He hung on to the rail at the back of the motorbike.
Hang on tight!
keep hold of something to continue to hold something:
Greg was struggling to keep hold of the dog.
She tried to take her hand away but he kept hold of it.
a tight/firm hold
Rose had a tight hold of her hand.
tighten your hold
Maria winced as Luke tightened his hold on her fingers.
loosen/relax your hold
Laughing, he loosened his hold until she could pull her arms free.
release your hold (=stop holding something)
As soon as his fingers released their hold, Robyn turned and ran.
catch/grab/seize etc hold of something (=start holding something quickly and firmly)
She grabbed hold of the letter and tore it open.
have hold of something (=be holding something)
Nathan had hold of her hand again.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲