ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grip

n. · v.
US //ˈɡɹɪp// UK //ɡɹˈɪp// grip
  1. 1 a firm hold (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a firm, strong hold on something with your hand.

    a firm manual hold or the manner in which an object is grasped.

    Example

    He kept a tight grip on his daughter's hand while they crossed the busy street.

    Example

    The climber maintained a steady grip on the limestone ledge, waiting for his breathing to slow before making the next move.
  2. 2 control or understanding (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    control over a situation, or a clear understanding of a difficult subject.

    intellectual mastery or effective control over a person, group, or situation.

    Example

    The new manager quickly got a grip on the company's financial problems.

    Example

    The administration struggled to maintain its grip on the narrative as contradictory reports began to emerge from the border.
Show 6 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 friction (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    the ability of something, like a tyre or shoe, to stay on a surface without sliding.

    the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves, preventing slippage.

    Example

    These new winter tyres have much better grip on icy roads.

    Example

    The racing driver complained that the rear tyres were losing grip during high-speed cornering, forcing a premature pit stop.
  2. 4 film crew member (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Theatre

    a person who handles equipment, like cameras and lights, on a film set.

    a technician responsible for the setup and maintenance of production equipment on a film or television set.

    Example

    The key grip made sure the camera track was perfectly level for the long shot.

    Example

    After years working as a grip on independent features, he finally joined the union to work on major studio productions.
  3. 5 a lot of something (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang American English Dialect

    a large amount of something or a long period of time.

    a significant quantity or duration; used colloquially in specific regional dialects.

    Example

    I haven't seen him in a grip, so I barely recognised him with the beard.

    Example

    She spent a grip of money on those designer shoes, but she claims they were worth every cent.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is highly regional to the West Coast of the United States; learners should avoid it in formal or international contexts.
  4. 6 to hold tightly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to hold something very tightly.

    to seize or maintain a firm manual hold upon an object.

    Example

    The child gripped his teddy bear as he waited for the doctor.

    Example

    The sailor gripped the railing as the ship pitched violently in the heavy swells.
  5. 7 to fascinate (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to hold someone's attention completely because something is very exciting.

    to compel the total attention or interest of an audience or individual.

    Example

    The mystery novel was so exciting that it gripped me from the first page.

    Example

    The witness's testimony gripped the courtroom, leaving the jurors visibly moved by the account of the events.
    • fascinate
    • enthrall
    • rivet
  6. 8 to affect strongly (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    when a strong feeling or a difficult situation has a powerful effect on you.

    of an emotion or condition: to dominate or affect an individual or group intensely.

    Example

    A sudden fear gripped him as he realised he was lost in the woods.

    Example

    Panic gripped the city's residents as news of the impending strike spread through the morning broadcasts.
Etymology 1

Verb from Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan, from a Proto-Germanic gripjaną (compare Old High German gripfen); compare the related Old English grīpan, whence English gripe. See also grope, and the related Proto-Germanic grīpaną. Noun from Middle English grippe, gripe, an amalgam of Old English gripe (“grasp, hold”) (cognate with German Griff) and Old English gripa (“handful”) (cognate with Swedish grepp).

Etymology 2

From Middle English grip, grippe, gryppe (“a ditch, drain”), from Old English grēp (“a furrow, burrow”) and grēpe (“a furrow, ditch, drain”), from Proto-Germanic *grōpiz (“a furrow, groove”). Cognate with Middle Dutch grippe, gruppe (“ditch, drain”), greppe, German Low German Gruppe (“ditch, drain”). Related also to Old English grōp (“a ditch, drain”). More at groop.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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