English Reference

Word

grab

US/ˈɡɹæb/

UK/ɡɹˈæb/

Definitions

01to seize suddenly

A2 · Elementary

v. to take hold of something or someone suddenly and with force.

v. to seize or grasp something suddenly, often with a degree of force or urgency.

“He had to grab the railing to keep from falling on the stairs.”

“The child reached out to grab his mother's hand as the crowd began to surge toward the station entrance.”

Antonyms

02to get quickly

A2 · Elementary Informal

v. to get, buy, or take something quickly because you are in a hurry.

v. to obtain or retrieve something in a hurried or informal manner.

“I need to grab my coat from the car before we leave.”

“If we hurry, we can grab the last few tickets before the box office closes for the evening.”

Synonyms

03to eat or drink quickly

B1 · Intermediate Informal

v. to have a quick meal or drink when you do not have much time.

v. to consume food or drink hastily, typically due to time constraints.

“Let's grab a coffee before the meeting starts.”

“The commuters usually grab a quick sandwich at the station rather than sitting down for a proper lunch.”

Synonyms

04to attract attention

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to get someone's interest or attention immediately.

v. to capture or command the attention or interest of an audience.

“The bright colours of the advertisement really grab your attention.”

“The opening chapter of the novel is designed to grab the reader's interest and establish a sense of mystery.”

Antonyms

05an act of seizing

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a sudden attempt to take or hold something.

n. a sudden, forceful act of grasping or snatching at an object.

“The player made a grab for the ball but missed it.”

“In a desperate grab for power, the junior executive attempted to bypass his manager and speak directly to the board.”

Synonyms

06a taxi ride

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal · Dialect

n. a ride in a car booked through a specific mobile app, common in Southeast Asia.

n. a journey made in a private hire vehicle booked via the Grab ride-hailing platform.

“It is raining outside, so let's just call a Grab to get to the restaurant.”

“After the concert ended, hundreds of people were trying to book a Grab at the same time, causing prices to surge.”

Usage

Commonly used in Malaysia, Singapore, and neighbouring countries as a generic term for ride-hailing.

Teaching tip

This is a brand-name turned common noun, similar to 'an Uber' in Western countries.

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “grab” in context.

Verb

01. grab a bite

“We have an hour before the movie starts, so let's grab a bite to eat at the cafe.”

verb + noun

02. grab a quick coffee

“I'll meet you in ten minutes; I just need to grab a quick coffee first.”

verb + adj + noun

03. grab a seat

“The lecture is about to begin, so please grab a seat quickly.”

verb + noun

04. grab a taxi

“It started raining heavily, so we decided to grab a taxi instead of walking home.”

verb + noun

05. grab someone's attention

“The bright neon sign was designed specifically to grab the customers' attention.”

verb + possessive + noun

Adverb

06. quickly grab the handle

“She had to quickly grab the handle to stop the door from slamming shut.”

adv + verb

07. tightly grab the railing

“He tightly grabbed the railing as the boat began to rock in the rough waves.”

adv + verb

Real-World Examples

“Outside, they grabbed hold of a metal gate and waited for the shaking to stop.”
BBC News 14 Aug 2026
“He grabbed his dog and ran down the stairs.”
UN News 13 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle Dutch grabben or Middle Low German grabben (“to grasp, grab, seize, snatch”), from Old Saxon gravan, from Proto-West Germanic grabbōn, a secondary form of Proto-Germanic grabōną (“to gather, rake”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to gather, rake, grab, seize”). Related to archaic German grappen (“to grab”), Danish grabbe (“to grab”), Swedish grabba (“to grab”), Old Norse grápa (“to seize, appropriate”), Middle English grappen (“to feel, grope, grasp, clutch”), Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”). Related also to Sanskrit गृह्णाति (gṛhṇā́ti), गृभ्णाति (gṛbhṇā́ti, “he seizes”), Avestan 𐬔𐬭𐬀𐬠 (grab, “to seize”)), Macedonian грабне (grabne, “to snatch”), Bulgarian грабя (grabja, “to rob, to grab”).

From Arabic غُرَاب (ḡurāb) and Hindi ghurb?: crow, raven, a kind of Arab ship.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Idioms

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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