grab1 verbgrab2 noun
grabgrab1 /ɡræb/ ●●● S1 W3 verb (past tense and past participle grabbed, present participle grabbing) [transitive] 
WORD ORIGINgrab1
Origin:
1500-1600 Middle Dutch, Middle Low German grabbenVERB TABLE
grab
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | grab |
| he, she, it | grabs | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | grabbed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have grabbed |
| he, she, it | has grabbed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had grabbed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will grab |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have grabbed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am grabbing |
| he, she, it | is grabbing | |
| you, we, they | are grabbing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was grabbing |
| you, we, they | were grabbing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been grabbing |
| he, she, it | has been grabbing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been grabbing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be grabbing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been grabbing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Grab your coat, we're late.
- According to the report, Mason grabbed the gun from a friend.
- Brown grabbed the phone and started shouting.
- Could you get there early and grab some good seats for us?
- I'm going to run downstairs and grab some books and stuff - I'll be right back.
- It was chaos, everyone was just grabbing drinks from behind the bar.
- She turned to him and grabbed his arm so hard it surprised him.
- The boy grabbed hold of my bag and disappeared quickly into the crowd.
- The firm is trying to grab a share of the market from competitors.
- A mad scramble followed a Dollar free throw, and Jason Hamilton eventually grabbed the ball on the right wing.
- From time to time she glanced suspiciously around as if afraid some one might try to grab it off her.
- He also expects that farmers who shoot will grab such an opportunity.
- Henderson grabbed it, and avoided several Trojans by putting it around his back.
- I grabbed the door handle, pulled the door open against the force of the wind, and ran up the stairs.
- It also allows the owner of a registered trademark to complain if its name has been grabbed by somebody else.
- The Bruins committed myriad mistakes and the Avalanche grabbed their 3-0 lead on only nine shots.
- We move on, with me grabbing the back spot.
THESAURUS
to have something in your hand, hands, or arms: · Maria came in holding a letter.· Can I hold the baby?
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.
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.
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.
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!
written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way: · She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
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.
written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently: · A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
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!
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.
Longman Language Activatorto use an opportunity: take the opportunity to do something · I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your help.take the opportunity of doing something · I'm going to take every opportunity of going to see Brian while he's living in Germany.
informal to quickly use an opportunity to do something, especially when you think you might not get another chance: · It may be the last time he offers you the job so I'd grab the chance while you can.grab the chance to do something: · Knowing how difficult it is to find a job I grabbed the chance to be trained as an electrician.
to eagerly and quickly use an opportunity to do something: · The early retirement plan is excellent and I'm surprised that people haven't jumped at the opportunity.jump at the chance/opportunity to do something: · When the resort was put up for sale, the Millers jumped at the chance to buy it.· She thought Lewis would jump at the opportunity to make some extra money on weekends.jump at the chance/opportunity of doing something: · Who wouldn't jump at the chance of spending a month in Australia?
to do something quickly, while you are in a situation in which you are most likely to be successful: · Don't wait until tomorrow before you tell him, strike while the iron is hot!
spoken to take the opportunity to do something now while the conditions are good, because you might not be able to do it later: · Let's make hay while the sun shines and finish this project before I start falling asleep.
someone who always looks for and takes opportunities that might make them more successful -- used to show disapproval: · It is difficult to tell whether he really wants to help May or whether he is just an opportunist.· As the finance company started to fail a few opportunists managed to make more money out of it.
to have a meal to eat a meal : have breakfast/lunch/dinner: · Have you had lunch?· Make sure you have a good breakfast because lunch isn't until two o'clock.have a meal: · We had an excellent meal in a Thai restaurant.
to eat a meal: · We usually eat at seven o'clock.· I'm not hungry, thanks - I've already eaten.eat out (=eat a meal in a restaurant): · We eat out about once a month.eat breakfast/lunch/dinner: · We ate dinner at around six, then went out.
to eat something such as a small meal or a sandwich: · Shall we stop here and have something to eat?· Halfway to Berlin we stopped to have something to eat.· The movie didn't start for another hour, so we had something to eat in the cafe across the street.
informal to eat something quickly, such as a small meal or a sandwich, because you are in a hurry: · Let's grab something to eat before we go out.· Do you want to grab a bite to eat, or can you wait until we get home?
to eat a small meal in the time between your main meals: · I usually have a snack at about 3 o'clock.· Dinner wouldn't be ready for a couple hours, so we had a snack while we watched television.
to eat small amounts of food between main meals or instead of a meal: · Children who snack often develop poor eating habits.snack on: · Tim was always snacking on potato chips and popcorn.
formal to eat a meal, often a formal or official meal, especially in the evening: dine with: · I have received an invitation to dine with the Mayor.dine alone: · Dining alone this evening?dine on: · Guests dined on sea bass and saffron potato mousseline.dine out (=have a meal in a restaurant): · It's a place where the famous can dine out and not be bothered.
to start holding something also get a hold of to take something and hold it in your hand: · I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could.· Sheila fished in her handbag until she got hold of her keys.· The baby got a hold of her beads and broke the string.
to quickly and roughly take something and hold it: · Brown grabbed the phone and started shouting.· She turned to him and grabbed his arm so hard it surprised him.grab hold of something: · The boy grabbed hold of my bag and disappeared quickly into the crowd.grab something from somebody: · According to the report, Mason grabbed the gun from a friend.
also grasp for to take something in your hand, especially when it is very difficult to do this: · I clutched at my mother's arm to keep from falling.· The climber grasped at a small hold just above him.
to sleep for a short time especially British /take a nap especially American to sleep for a short time during the day: · I was having a nap by the fire one evening when I was woken up by the doorbell· Try to take a nap in the afternoons if you're feeling tired.· The director always takes a nap around this time.
to sleep lightly for a short time, so that you wake up and go back to sleep again, often while you are sitting in a chair or when you do not intend to: · He left his mother dozing by the fire.· Geoff lay dozing gently in a sunlounger.doze fitfully (=to sleep for very short periods): · Some people managed to sleep, but most of us just dozed fitfully.
/have/take a snooze to sleep for a short time, especially during the day when you do not usually sleep: · The baby was snoozing peacefully in her stroller, so we stopped to have a drink.· The study showed that if pilots on long-haul flights take a brief snooze in the cockpit, they're more alert for the landing.
informal to sleep for a short time when you have a chance to, because you are very busy and cannot sleep at your usual time: · I'll go home, snatch a couple of hours' sleep and meet you at four.· I grabbed a little sleep on the train, but it wasn't enough.
British to sleep for a short time during the day because you are tired: · Are you tired? Why don't you have a sleep this afternoon?
to put out your hand to take something · I reached for the salt, and knocked over a bottle of wine.· There was a noise outside, and Bill reached for his flashlight.
to suddenly put out your hand in order to take something: · I grabbed at the boy's collar as he ran past.· I snatched at the reins and managed to haul him to a halt.
to take something from somewhere quickly and suddenly to quickly and suddenly take something from the place where it is, especially because you are in a hurry: · Grab your coat, we're late.· I'm going to run downstairs and grab some books and stuff - I'll be right back.· It was chaos, everyone was just grabbing drinks from behind the bar.
to take something quickly and violently from the place where it is: · When no one was looking, he snatched a tray of watches and ran out of the shop.· Someone's going to snatch your purse if you leave it sticking out of your bag like that.· Before I could say a word, he'd snatched the keys from the table and run out of the room.
to very quickly and suddenly take something from the place where it is, especially to prevent someone from seeing or touching it: whisk away something: · The waiter whisked away my plate before I'd finished.whisk away: · As soon as the baby was born he was whisked away and put in an incubator.
to take something from someone to take something out of someone's hands: · Let me take your bags -- you look exhausted.· Oh, mom, could you just take this for a second?· He took her coat, and hung it in the hall.take something from somebody: · He walked slowly across the room and took the gun from her.take something off somebody informal: · Can you take some of these books off me?
to take something from someone with a sudden violent movement: · He just grabbed my camera and ran off with it.snatch/grab something from somebody/something: · Gerry snatched her diary from the desk, and she lunged to grab it back.snatch/grab something off somebody informal: · Paul grabbed the bag of sweets off his sister and ran away with it.
to take something important from someone, such as a possession or a right, either as a punishment or in a way that is wrong or unfair: take away something: · Mom's threatened to take away my stereo if my schoolwork doesn't improve.· The new law would take away the rights of workers to go on strike.· That's stupid -- it's like teaching someone to read, then taking away all their books!take something away: · No, Eli, I'm taking it away now!take something away from somebody: · Even though Polly still needs it, the authorities have taken the wheelchair away from her.
to take something such as drugs, guns, or documents from someone who is keeping them illegally or taking them from one place to another: · Police seized 53 weapons and made 42 arrests.· Over 52,000 E-tablets hidden in a car door were seized by customs officials.· Assets worth over $1 million were seized, along with documents relating to the company's financial dealings.
to take something such as a car or an animal away from someone and keep it in a special place until they are officially allowed to have it back: · The act will give the government new rights to impound untaxed cars and crush them. · The medical officer says that the animals will be impounded while tests are carried out.· Police recovered both items, and impounded a black BMW from the murder scene.
to officially take something away from someone, either as a punishment or because they are not allowed to have it: · Your vehicle can be confiscated if you are transporting marijuana.· The authorities will confiscate firearms found on a boat or plane if the owner cannot show proof of US licensing. confiscate something from somebody: · The group claims that billions of dollars in property and bank accounts was confiscated from Jewish businessmen in the Second World War.
if the army or other military organization commandeers something such as a vehicle or a building, they take it away from the owners in order to use it in a war: · Bud's truck had been commandeered by the regiment.· The officers had commandeered every house in the area.· A paramilitary group attempted to commandeer the bus and take it to Madrid.
to take away or not let someone have their rights, advantages etc, especially in a way that seems unfair: · Under Stalin, Soviet citizens were deprived of their most basic human rights.· The boy's parents claim the school's actions have effectively deprived their son of education.· Banning the carnival will deprive law-abiding citizens of a source of culturally valuable entertainment.
to completely take away someone's rights, responsibilities, or a prize they have won, especially as a punishment for doing something wrong: · The captain was stripped of his licence after the collision.· He was formally stripped of his American citizenship.· The ruling authority stripped him of his boxing title after he was convicted of importing heroin.· The court ruled that Learer's conviction did not constitute grounds for stripping her of custody of her four children.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Kay grabbed hold of my arm to stop herself falling. I think you should grab your chance to travel while you’re young. She grabbed the opportunity to go to America. The plight of the refugees immediately grabbed the headlines (=was the most important story in the newspapers).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Kay grabbed hold of my arm to stop herself falling. I think you should grab your chance to travel while you’re young. She grabbed the opportunity to go to America. The plight of the refugees immediately grabbed the headlines (=was the most important story in the newspapers). (=take hold of it with a sudden violent movement)· ‘Wait’, he cried, grabbing her arm.
(=quickly use an opportunity)· As soon as she stopped speaking, I grabbed the chance to leave.
(=take and hold something firmly)· He felt Connor’s hand grasp his shoulder.
(=to be reported in many newspapers as an important story)· Madonna's adoption of the child grabbed world headlines.
(=start holding something quickly and firmly)· She grabbed hold of the letter and tore it open.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· She grabbed Anna's arm, her fingers sinking into the flesh, and began to drag her toward the car.· But instead he grabbed her arm and shoved her ahead.· I started to jump up again, but Polly grabbed my arm.· The cabby refused and grabbed him by the arm, at which point the robber pulled free and ran off.· Corrigan resisted the urge to grab him by the arm and hold him.· Hinkle grabbed her other arm and between us we heaved her up and into the chair.· When he sat down, his wife Lourdes grabbed his arm to comfort him.
· The layout was powerful and grabbed your attention.· A plumbing emergency will grab your attention.· The increasingly likely dismissal of President Abdurrahman Wahid is grabbing most attention.· The purpose of the letter is to grab attention to ensure that your resume will be read.· Thing is, you've got to grab attention with just one phrase as punters rush on by.· Its purpose is to grab your attention and keep you watching.· Voice over It's difficult to say who is having most fun, but there's plenty to grab the attention.· Many manufacturers are grabbing consumers' attention by offering free graphics software with their printers.
· I sat up and leant over him and grabbed my bag.· But after the officer leaves, Michael grabs his sleeping bag and hits the streets.· They held the knife up against the baby's face and grabbed the bag containing £95.· More girls were chosen, grabbed their evening bags, ran quick fingers through their hair.· Holding back the tears, she grabbed her bag and stumbled from the house.· She set the answering machine, grabbed her bag and locked up the flat.· Some one grabbed her bag and made off before she had time to see who it was.· Rain fought back the impulse to grab her bag and check the contents, and then she was through to the Post.
· That allowed Washington's Danny Copeland to grab the ball for the winning touchdown.· A mad scramble followed a Dollar free throw, and Hamilton eventually grabbed the ball on the right wing.· Clarke is a burly man who tends to grab the ball and go - more suited to the wing than midfield.· Pearce, wanting to take a quick throw-in, grabbed the ball and pushed him on the cinder track surrounding the pitch.· But Abdur-Rahim missed an off-balance shot and Jelani McCoy grabbed the loose ball.
· This was my chance and I grabbed it.· By the force of his own enthusiasm, Buchanan has a chance of grabbing some of the 21 delegates at stake.· The Aboriginals saw that finally they had a chance of grabbing some white man's money.· But in the doubles the youngsters were given a chance and grabbed their moment of glory.· So when I got this chance, I grabbed it.
· The Southampton midfielder grabbed his first goal for the club with an unstoppable shot.· Marco Van Basten grabbed his fourth goal of the season, 12 minutes after Daniele Massaro had broken the deadlock.· And it was Nicholas who grabbed Celtic's second goal after 27 minutes.· And after grabbing two goals in the opening 15 minutes, Rovers possessed neither the need nor the inclination to chase things.· He grabbed two goals and signed as an apprentice for his home club.· Comrades however had the last say when Dean Gordon grabbed a consolation goal for them on the stroke of full time.
· He follows through with his right, wasting no time on punches, just grabbing for the gun.· So I grabbed my gun and told my wife to take Jean and the other girl out of here.· He lunged forwards, hit Rohmer hard with his shoulder in a rugby charge and grabbed his gun arm.· She promptly grabbed the gun and threw it down a well.· Trent slung a bandoleer over his shoulder and grabbed both guns and two boxes of cartridges.· According to one report, Moussa grabbed the gun from a comrade.· Steve yelped and Newman grabbed the gun he was holding.· Instead of handing over the test, the testy proctor grabbed the gun.
· He grabbed the man's hair and slammed his face against the wall.· The police officer grabbed him by the hair, put the barrel of his pistol in one eye and fired.· She grabs the hair at her temples to get enough to uproot it and halt the melting for a while.· Or he grabs him by the hair, drags back the head, makes the first deep cut.· I grabbed her hair....· As he crumples I grab hold of his hair.· When she refused, the attacker grabbed her hair, slapped her and tied her wrists together.
· Later I saw blood on my hand where I'd grabbed him.· She said she never knew how lucky she was to have all those hands grabbing at her skirt.· One of his hands grabbed a rusty handhold at the roof's edge, then he heaved himself up with the other.· Needless to say Kyle would push his hand away or quickly grab the train back and put it back where it belonged.· Bowring reeled, choked, flailed his hands, tried to grab at reality, wherever it was.· Startled, Simon's hand shot out to grab it, his fingers scrabbling desperately, his nails scraping the wood.· Any minute and he'd reach out a hand and grab her.· She reached for Nina's hands, and grabbed what she hoped were her little fingers.
· The arguments now are less about headline-grabbing ideas than safeguards and the exact wording which frames the proposals.· And yet, in the face of this record, some of my headline-grabbing opponents are asking me to resign!
· The world can not go to war every time a despot grabs a piece of land.
· Dougal grabbed the body's legs and hauled it on its back to the edge of the gazebo nearest the pond.· A table rushed toward him and he grabbed its leg.· Throwing it over him, they finally managed to grab hold of his legs and stop the uncontrollable bouncing.· The key when you shoot the gap is to grab the legs.· He groaned and dropped to his knees, grabbing her other leg and pulling hard enough to send her flying.· But as we approached the cottage, l felt him grab my legs from the back.
· He also expects that farmers who shoot will grab such an opportunity.· Solov had given Holder sixteen bars of music to improvise to, and the dancer grabbed at the opportunity.· Breed's possessed frontman is grabbing his opportunity by its ungainly bollocks.· Western countries should be grabbing the opportunities presented by the new openness.· Failing to grab a career opportunity is generally due to lack of research, too vague a plan and poor self-belief.
· Carrick, who will be 40 next month, brought Yorkshire maximum bowling bonus points by grabbing six for 58.· In his first start, against Maryland, he scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.· Duncan fouled out with 1: 51 left after scoring eight points and grabbing 13 rebounds.· He scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.· Cicely makes six points, grabs four rebounds and finally seems to know what plays are being run.· And from Stinson, who scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.· Danny Fortson scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as Cincinnati held off the late charge by the 49ers.· Jess Settles scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Hawkeyes, who outrebounded the Colonials 47-25.
· Duncan fouled out with 1: 51 left after scoring eight points and grabbing 13 rebounds.· Mutombo is a natural defender, patrolling the middle, grabbing rebounds and finding the outlet man.· Robert Horry, the former Rocket, made only two of 10 shots but grabbed 12 rebounds.· Eddie grabs the rebound and puts it up with no time on the clock.· But she grabs five rebounds and turns over the ball only three times.· In his first start, against Maryland, he scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.· He scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.· During that time, he has grabbed 20 or more rebounds in 114 games.
· Not surprisingly, the major computer, consumer electronics and telecommunications companies are hoping to grab a share.· Moving to grab a share of the $ 70 billion long-distance market, Ameritech Corp.
· The driver grabbed me by the shoulder and asked for my fare.· The assailant approached another woman on Baden Avenue near Maple Avenue, grabbed her shoulders, kissed and mauled her.· Kate grabbed the shoulder of her daughter's tee-shirt and dragged her to the cell door.· And felt grabbed at the shoulder.· She sagged against him, her legs quivering, the blood pounding in her ears, and grabbed his shoulders for support.· She was about to look away when he grabbed her shoulder.· Creed caught up with her in the hallway and grabbed her by the shoulder, spinning her round.
· She reached for the.38 jammed into her waistband, trying to pull it free as Stark grabbed for her throat.· He then grabs his throat with both hands, as if suddenly choking, closes his eyes and pretends to lose consciousness.· I wanted to grab people by the throat and confront them with this terrible situation that was being allowed to continue.· I wanted to leap across his desk and grab him by the throat.· I slide my knee to the side, grab his throat with my right hand, and squeeze.· He grabbed her by the throat and threatened to kick her.
· For a moment she feared he would simply step over, grab her wrist, pull out the money.· She got up, tears streaming from her eyes as he grabbed her trembling wrist and put the bracelet on her.· I grabbed his wrist and broke it, spinning him round and holding him up.· We were still talking and laughing when she grabbed both my wrists and dug in.· He grabbed her wrist, and spun her back to face him.· He hesitated, then grabbed her wrist and twisted it so that she screamed again and the knife dropped.· I grabbed his wrist, twisting the hand away from my face.· A cop grabbed my wrist and handy-helped me into the street.
VERB· I managed to grab a few more hours in bed before rising late in the morning.· Afterward, while she was rushing back out the door, I managed to grab hold of her and introduce myself.· Again, Yanto managed to grab the tail, and yet again the fish broke free and leapt in the air.· Somehow she managed to grab hold of his shirt and she shouted out her resistance.· He managed to grab it; the stitches gave a better handhold.· At first simply managing to grab the feet will prove to be an effort.· Detectives believe that Elizabeth managed to grab the canister, but it was wrenched from her grasp.· She managed to grab it before it went in.
· She reached and grabbed the tail of his long jacket, and she hauled him back down the stairs.· Dallas' David LaFleur can't quite reach out to grab a pass.· With that, he reached down to grab up her suitcases.· She never reached up to grab the child when the grabbing was good.· I reached down and grabbed her arms, tried pulling.· Bedford reached over to grab the door.· He was walking off when I reached out, grabbed him again and slapped him across the head.· Gao Ma stumbled toward it and reached but to grab a branch covered with spiny hollyhocks.
· Duncan fouled out with 1: 51 left after scoring eight points and grabbing 13 rebounds.· In his first start, against Maryland, he scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.· He scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.· And from Stinson, who scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.· Danny Fortson scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as Cincinnati held off the late charge by the 49ers.· Jess Settles scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Hawkeyes, who outrebounded the Colonials 47-25.· They have played a combined 275 playoff games, 23 All-Star Games, scored 49,891 points and grabbed 24,019 rebounds.· Marcus Camby scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Donta Bright made a huge 3-pointer and the Minutemen won.
· One of the friends, Manuel Cabrera, said he tried to grab Jamie but the intense heat drove him out.· I could say I was trying to grab some connectedness for myself.· He tried to grab the knife.· Its lack of distinction sometimes caused him to be insulted in the street, but no one ever tried to grab it.· Ryker tried to grab them but was too late.· Daley did what he had always done when somebody made demands or tried to grab some of his power.· The 17-year-olds were met by armed police and our photographer Ken Lennox when they tried to grab £8,000 outside a credit firm.· Whoever controlled her handkerchief controlled her, and Demetros accidentally latched on to it as he tried to grab her.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► smash-and-grab raid/attack etc
1with your hand to take hold of someone or something with a sudden or violent movement SYN snatch: - How does going to Hawaii for Christmas grab you?
- Woods' success has made headlines nationwide.
- Days later his passionate affair with cartoonist Sally Anne Lassoon was making headlines.
- It is the exceptions which make the headlines.
- More airplane tragedies will make the headlines.
- The problems-from bad backs to carpal tunnel syndrome to headaches-have made the headlines of every health magazine in the country.
- The story made headlines around the world and researchers believe it may have inspired the novel Lassie Come Home.
- This is evidenced by a number of recent disasters which have made the headlines.
- What has grabbed headlines this year is the issue of food safety.
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.► see thesaurus at hold2food/sleep informal to get some food or sleep quickly because you are busy SYN 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.3get 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.4chance/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.5get 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).6information to take information on a computer, website etc7how 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.grab1 verbgrab2 noun
grabgrab2 noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Hamilton's actions were nothing more than a power grab within the company.
- Howe said Doug Johns is his fifth starter, but the fourth slot is up for grabs.
- I had some memorable test drives after buying a dozen 6R4s when they were up for grabs at the factory.
- In the past fortnight war veterans have begun more land grabs.
- She dodged around him and ran into the road as he made a grab for her.
- The defender does this by suddenly splitting his X block and converting it to a double open-palm grab.
WORD SETS
AC, accessory, nounadapter, nounadhesive, nounaerate, verbaerosol, nounair conditioning, nounair lock, nounairtight, adjectivealarm, nounandroid, nounantenna, nounarm, nounattachment, nounaxle, nounbaffle, nounball bearing, nounballcock, nounbarrel, nounbearing, nounbelt, nounbenzine, nounbinder, nounbinoculars, nounblock and tackle, nounblower, nounboarding, nounbolt, nounbrad, nounbrake fluid, nounbrush, nounbucket, nounbuffer, nounbulb, nounBulldog clip, nounbutton, nounbuzzer, nouncable, nouncalibre, nouncam, nouncan, nouncar, nouncarriage, nouncartridge, nouncasing, nouncaster, nouncatalytic converter, nouncentrifuge, nounchannel, nounchicken wire, nounchute, nouncladding, nounclamp, nouncleat, nouncog, nouncogwheel, nouncombination lock, nouncompartment, nouncompressor, nounconcave, adjectiveconcavity, nounconfiguration, nouncontrol, nouncord, nouncounter, nouncrank, nouncutout, nouncyborg, nouncycle, noundamper, noundetector, noundevelop, verbdevice, noundial, noundie, verbdigital, adjectivedispenser, noundissipation, noundistill, verbdrum, nounduct, noundurable goods, noundynamite, noundynamite, verbenergize, verbengage, verbexhaust, nounextractor, nounfacility, nounfail-safe, adjectivefaucet, nounfeed, nounfiberglass, nounfibreglass, nounfield test, nounfilament, nounfilter, nounfirst generation, nounfitting, nounflange, nounflare, nounflex, nounfloodlight, nounfluid, nounfluoridate, verbflush, verbflywheel, nounfoam, verbframe, nounframework, nounfunnel, noungabardine, noungasket, noungas turbine, noungear, noungel, verbgelatinous, adjectivegelignite, noungenetic fingerprinting, nounglaze, verbglue, noungoggles, noungrab, noungrease, noungrease, verbgrid, noungrind, verbgrindstone, noungrommet, noungum, noungun, nounhand-held, adjectivehandle, nounhandloom, nounhandmade, adjectivehandsfree, adjectivehardware, nounharness, nounhasp, nounheavy-duty, adjectiveheavy metal, nounhessian, nounhigh-definition, adjectivehigh-powered, adjectivehinge, nounhooter, nounhousing, nounhub, nounhumidifier, nounincinerate, verbincinerator, nounindustrial arts, nounIndustrial Revolution, the, nouninlay, nouninlet, nouninoperative, adjectiveinsecticide, nouninset, verbinstall, verbinstallation, nouninstrumentation, nouninsulate, verbintake, nouninternal combustion engine, nouninverse, adjectiveionizer, nouniron, nouniron, verbjack, nounjib, nounkey, nounkeyboard, verbkey card, nounkeypad, nounkeystroke, nounkingpin, nounlaser, nounLCD, nounlead, nounlens, nounlever, nounlie detector, nounlift, nounlight bulb, nounlinseed oil, nounlistening device, nounlocomotion, nounloop, verbLuddite, nounmachine, verbmachine-made, adjectivemagnet, nounmagnetic, adjectivemagnifying glass, nounmantle, nounmanual, adjectivemap, verbmarker, nounmastic, nounmaterial, nounmechanism, nounmedium, nounmembrane, nounmesh, verbmetal detector, nounmethanol, nounmeths, nounmethyl alcohol, nounmica, nounmicro-, prefixmicroscope, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemode, nounmortise lock, nounmounting, nounmovement, nounnail, nounnail, verbnet, nounnib, nounnipple, nounnitroglycerine, nounnozzle, nounnut, nounoil, verboilcan, nounoperable, adjectiveoperate, verboperation, nounoperational research, nounoperator, nounoutlet, nounoxidize, verboxygen mask, nounozone-friendly, adjectivepad, nounpadlock, nounpaper, nounpart, nounpaving, nounPhotostat, nounpinion, nounpipe, nounpipette, nounpocket calculator, nounpointer, nounpolygraph, nounportico, nounpropellant, nounpump-action, adjectiverack, nounreel, nounrefrigerate, verbrelease, verbrelease, nounremote control, nounreservoir, nounresolution, nounrespirator, nounrobot, nounrobotics, nounsafe, nounsealant, nounsealer, nounsearchlight, nounsensitize, verbsetting, nounshovel, nounshovel, verbsiphon, nounsiren, nounskeleton key, nounslat, nounslide, nounsling, nounsmoke alarm, nounsonic, adjectivesoot, nounspare part, nounspigot, nounspool, nounspout, nounspray, nounspray can, nounspring, nounsprocket, nounstaple, nounsteel wool, nounsucker, nounsuction, nounSuperglue, nounswivel, nountab, nountackle, nountank, nountape, nountaper, nountechnological, adjectivetechnologist, nountechnophobe, nountelescopic, adjectivetesting ground, nountest tube, nounthinner, nounthread, nountoken, nountreadle, nountrestle, nountrestle table, nountube, nountubing, nountubular, adjectivetwo-edged, adjectivetypewriter, noununscrew, verbuntreated, adjectivevacuum-packed, adjectivevent, nounvial, nounwasher, nounwater softener, nounwaterspout, nounwheeled, adjectivewing nut, nounwooden, adjectivework-surface, nounzapper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Officials denounced the settlers’ land grab.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Officials denounced the settlers’ land grab. (=take hold of it with a sudden violent movement)· ‘Wait’, he cried, grabbing her arm.
(=quickly use an opportunity)· As soon as she stopped speaking, I grabbed the chance to leave.
(=take and hold something firmly)· He felt Connor’s hand grasp his shoulder.
(=to be reported in many newspapers as an important story)· Madonna's adoption of the child grabbed world headlines.
(=start holding something quickly and firmly)· She grabbed hold of the letter and tore it open.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Burwell is known for her visionary grab bag of charmingly painted furniture, and increasingly, for her stunning computer graphics work.· We were left with a grab bag of effects, only a modicum of which registered.· A true grab bag filled with unexpected surprises.
· Handrails and / or grab bars in the bathroom near the toilet and in the shower / bath.
· In the past fortnight war veterans have begun more land grabs.· Monta o accuses the city of deliberately forcing the neighborhood to go downhill, the better to justify a future land grab.· If these incorporations fail, Marana and Oro Valley land grabs will continue.
· This shameless power grab is the work of Rep.· Meanwhile, his opponents, including many Democrats and New Dealers, moved to check his power grab.
VERB· Gritting his teeth against the pain, he made a grab with his right hand and ripped the knife from its sheath.· He made a grab for Isaac, but wasn't quick enough.· She dodged around him and ran into the road as he made a grab for her.· Somewhere on the journey would come a chance to make a grab.· Then Rose made a grab for Evelyn's hair and started banging her head against the floor with both hands.· The realization felt as if the world had made a grab at him.· He wasn't going to make a crude grab at her.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► smash-and-grab raid/attack etc
1make a grab for/at something to suddenly try to take hold of something: - He made a grab for the knife.
- He made a grab for Isaac, but wasn't quick enough.
- She dodged around him and ran into the road as he made a grab for her.
- The realization felt as if the world had made a grab at him.
- Then Rose made a grab for Evelyn's hair and started banging her head against the floor with both hands.
- Before long the entire paper industry is up for grabs.
- But the software, particularly the interface, was up for grabs.
- Canary Wharf was up for grabs.
- Howe said Doug Johns is his fifth starter, but the fourth slot is up for grabs.
- I had some memorable test drives after buying a dozen 6R4s when they were up for grabs at the factory.
- Regional and runners-up prizes will also be up for grabs.
- The lower house of Congress also is up for grabs in the July elections.
- This is the process whereby every scrap of green land in a town is up for grabs by development.
- Woods' success has made headlines nationwide.
- Days later his passionate affair with cartoonist Sally Anne Lassoon was making headlines.
- It is the exceptions which make the headlines.
- More airplane tragedies will make the headlines.
- The problems-from bad backs to carpal tunnel syndrome to headaches-have made the headlines of every health magazine in the country.
- The story made headlines around the world and researchers believe it may have inspired the novel Lassie Come Home.
- This is evidenced by a number of recent disasters which have made the headlines.
- What has grabbed headlines this year is the issue of food safety.
As soon as he turned his back, I made a grab for the revolver.2be 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 it3[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.