Grabbed Grab Hold I ɡræb Arm Hand Verb

• she grabbed his arm as he got up to leave.
• she grabbed the child's hand and ran.
• he grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go.
• he grabbed her around the throat and squeezed.

grab

Verb Forms

1. to take or hold somebody/something with your hand suddenly or roughly
• SYNONYM seize
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/seize
• She grabbed his arm as he got up to leave.
• She grabbed the child's hand and ran.
• He grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go.
• He grabbed her around the throat and squeezed.
• Someone grabbed me from behind.
• He grabbed Tom by the collar and dragged him outside.
• Jim grabbed a cake from the plate.
• Don't grab—there's plenty for everyone.

Extra Examples

• He grabbed hold of a handrail to save himself from falling.
• Somebody tried to grab her handbag from her.
2. to try to take hold of something
• She grabbed at the branch, missed and fell.
• I grabbed at his arm as he ran past.
• Kate grabbed for the robber's gun.
3. to take advantage of an opportunity to do or have something
• SYNONYM seize
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/seize
• This was my big chance and I grabbed it with both hands.
• He'll grab at any excuse to avoid doing the dishes.
• He'll grab at any excuse to avoid hard work.
4. to have or take something quickly, especially because you are in a hurry
• Let's grab a sandwich before we go.
• I'll grab a bite to eat in town.
• Grab a cab and get over here.
• I managed to grab a couple of hours' sleep on the plane.
• Grab a seat, I won't keep you a moment.
5. to take something for yourself, especially in a selfish or greedy way
• By the time we arrived, someone had grabbed all the good seats.
• She's always trying to grab the limelight.
6. to get somebody’s attention
• I'll see if I can grab the waitress and get the bill.
• Glasgow’s drugs problem has grabbed the headlines tonight (= been published as an important story in the newspapers).
• The play grabs the audience’s attention from the very start.
7. to take a picture from a television or video film, or from a computer screen, and store it as an image on a computer
• You can use this keyboard shortcut to grab part of the screen.
8. used to ask somebody whether they are interested in something or in doing something
• How does the idea of a trip to Rome grab you?

Word Origin

• late 16th cent.: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch grabben; perhaps related to grip, gripe, and grope.