Word
grasp
US/ˈɡɹæsp/
UK/ɡɹˈɑːsp/
Definitions
01to hold tightly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to take a firm hold of something with your hand.
v. to seize and hold something firmly, typically with the hands.
日本語:つかむ※
“He had to grasp the railing tightly to avoid falling on the stairs.”
“The climber managed to grasp a narrow ledge just as his foot slipped, preventing a dangerous fall down the rock face.”
Usage
Transitive; takes a direct object.
02to understand
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to understand a difficult or complicated idea.
v. to comprehend or mentally process a complex concept or situation.
日本語:把握する※
“It took me a while to grasp the main point of the lecture.”
“The students struggled to grasp the theoretical implications of the new law until the professor provided concrete examples.”
Usage
Often used with abstract nouns like 'concept', 'meaning', or 'significance'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03physical grip
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. the act of holding something, or the way you hold it.
n. a firm physical grip or the power of gripping.
日本語:握り※
“The suitcase slipped from his grasp and fell into the water.”
“The child struggled to maintain his grasp on the oversized ball as he ran across the playground.”
04mental understanding
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. your understanding of a subject or a situation.
n. the capacity for understanding or the extent of one's comprehension.
“She has an excellent grasp of French after living in Paris for a year.”
“The candidate demonstrated a thorough grasp of the industry's challenges during the final round of interviews.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'a good grasp of'.
Synonyms
05within reach
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. the ability to get or achieve something.
n. the range or scope of one's power, reach, or ability to achieve a goal.
“Victory was finally within their grasp after a long and difficult season.”
“The diplomat feared that a peaceful resolution was slipping from their grasp as negotiations stalled for the third day.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “grasp” in context.
Verb
01. fail to grasp the significance
“Many investors failed to grasp the significance of the market shift until it was too late.”
verb + infinitive
02. firmly grasp the handle
“You must firmly grasp the handle before attempting to pull the lever toward you.”
adv + verb
03. grasp the basic principles
“Once you grasp the basic principles of coding, learning new languages becomes much easier.”
verb + adj + noun
04. grasp the nettle
“The government finally decided to grasp the nettle and implement the unpopular tax reforms.”
verb + noun
Noun
05. struggle to grasp the meaning
“His struggle to grasp the meaning of the poem was evident in his confused expression.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
06. fully grasp the implications
“It took several days for the team to fully grasp the implications of the security breach.”
adv + verb
07. readily grasp the concept
“The students were able to readily grasp the concept of quantum entanglement after the demonstration.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“But the human visitors are totally unable to grasp the meaning of these movements.” “Most of all though, I just couldn't quite grasp that there were four human beings strapped into their seats at the top of a 98m-tall rocket on their way to the Moon.” “Maintaining the garden had slipped from her grasp, becoming a source of constant worry, yet pride had stopped her asking for help – and tight finances from paying for it.” “Your grasp of poetic 19th-century German isn’t what it could be?” Etymology
From Middle English graspen, grapsen, craspen (“to grope; feel around”), from Old English grǣpsian, from Proto-West Germanic graipisōn, from Proto-Germanic graipisōną, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrebʰ- (“to take, seize, rake”), the same ultimate source as grab. Cognate with Saterland Frisian grapsje (“to grab, grasp”), German Low German grapsen (“to grab; grasp”), German grapsen and grapschen, Old English grāpian ("to touch, feel, grasp"; > Modern English grope). Compare also Swedish krafsa (“to scatch; scabble”), Norwegian krafse (“to scramble”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
01. grasp at straws
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/grasp
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0