grab

The word “grab” means to take hold of something suddenly and firmly. In plain terms, to seize something suddenly, or more loosely, to quickly get or fetch something.

“Grab” is pronounced GRAB (/ˈɡɹæb/ in IPA).

Here is “grab” used in a sentence: “He grabbed his coat and ran out the door.”

Words with a similar meaning to “grab” include catch, clutch, grasp, seize and snatch.

Depending on how it is used, “grab” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “grab” comes from Dutch. From Middle Dutch grabben, "to seize or snatch", tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to gather" or "to seize".

“Grab” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Grab” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take hold of something suddenly and firmly.

To grab is to take hold suddenly and firmly, an active, often quick movement — grabbing a falling glass. To hold is to keep something in your grasp once you have it, a steadier, ongoing action. Grab starts the contact; hold continues it. One is the seizing, the other the keeping.

You might grab a railing to steady yourself, grab your keys on the way out, or grab someone's arm to get their attention. Informally, you can grab a coffee or grab a seat. In each case, grab suggests taking hold quickly and decisively rather than slowly.

Yes. Beyond physically seizing something, grab is common in casual speech meaning to get quickly — grab a bite, grab a drink, grab some sleep. It can also mean to seize an opportunity or catch attention, as in "the headline grabs you." These relaxed uses are everyday English.

The opposite is to release, let go, or drop — to stop holding something. Where grab means to seize suddenly, these words mean to loosen your grip. Other contrasts include offer or hand over, which involve giving something rather than snatching it for yourself.