to grab
Third Person
grabs
Present Participle
grabbing
Past Tense
grabbed
Past Participle
grabbed
1
to take hold of an object or surface rapidly or abruptly
transitive
- He grabbed the railing tightly as he stumbled on the stairs, preventing himself from falling.
- She grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself as the boat rocked back and forth on the rough waves.
- The child grabbed his mother's hand as he tripped on the pavement.
- As the car skidded on the icy road, he grabbed the steering wheel tightly, trying to regain control.
2
to take someone or something suddenly or violently
transitive
- The police officer grabbed the suspect by the arm and pulled him away from the scene of the crime.
- The lifeguard grabbed the struggling swimmer by the arm and pulled him to safety from the strong current.
- The teacher grabbed the misbehaving student by the collar and escorted him out of the classroom.
- In a fit of anger, he grabbed his coworker by the shoulders and shook him forcefully.
- The coach grabbed the player by the jersey and pulled him aside for a private conversation.
Synonyms:
3
to take or get something quickly or hastily
transitive
- They grabbed a pizza on the way home from work since they didn't have time to cook dinner.
- He grabbed the microphone and started singing karaoke when the opportunity arose at the party.
- She grabbed the last piece of cake from the dessert table during the party.
- He grabbed the last available seat on the crowded bus.
4
to reach for or try to seize something with a quick motion
transitive
- She grabbed at the branch as she slipped on the muddy trail, trying to prevent a fall.
- He grabbed at the floating ball with both hands, trying to catch it before it drifted out of reach.
- The child grabbed at the colorful balloons as they floated above her head.
- He grabbed at the envelope as it slipped from his fingers, desperate to prevent it from falling into the water below.
- The cat grabbed at the moving toy with its claws, pawing at it eagerly as it darted across the floor.
Synonyms:
5
to attract or hold someone's attention or interest
transitive
- The movie's intriguing plot and captivating visuals grabbed the audience from the very beginning.
- The headline of the newspaper grabbed me as soon as I saw it.
- The vibrant colors and unique design of the painting grabbed the museum visitors.
- The catchy melody and infectious rhythm of the song grabbed the listeners and made it an instant hit.
- The speaker's passionate delivery and thought-provoking ideas grabbed the audience.
Synonyms:
6
to acquire something opportunistically or unethically
transitive
- The corrupt politician used his position to grab land from unsuspecting citizens for his personal gain.
- She grabbed credit for the project's success, even though she contributed very little to its completion.
- The scam artist used deceptive tactics to grab money from vulnerable individuals.
- He grabbed confidential information from the company's database to gain an advantage over his competitors.
- She grabbed the promotion by spreading rumors about her colleagues.