# clutching

/ˈkɫətʃɪŋ/ (US) · /klˈʌtʃɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clutching
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

holding onto something very tightly because you are afraid, in pain, or do not want to lose it.

For teachers: grasping or seizing something tightly with the hands, often due to fear, anxiety, or physical distress.

## Examples

- She was clutching her bag tightly on the crowded train.
- The child stood by the door, clutching a worn teddy bear as he watched his parents leave for the evening.
- The survivor was found clutching a piece of driftwood, having maintained a desperate grip throughout the freezing night until the rescue team finally arrived.

## Usage notes

- The present participle of 'clutch'; functions as a transitive verb taking a direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.