Word
gripping
Phoneticsgrip·ping, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹɪpɪŋ/
UK/ɡɹˈɪpɪŋ/
Definitions
01exciting and interesting
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. so interesting or exciting that you cannot stop paying attention to it.
adj. compelling or fascinating; capable of commanding and holding one's attention completely.
“The novel was so gripping that I stayed up all night to finish it.”
“The documentary offered a gripping account of the rescue mission, combining archival footage with intense first-hand interviews.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02holding tightly
B1 · Intermediate
v. holding something very firmly with your hand.
v. the present participle of 'grip', describing the act of grasping or clutching something tightly.
“He was gripping the steering wheel tightly because he was nervous.”
“Gripping the icy railing with both hands, the hiker carefully navigated the narrow ledge above the canyon.”
03the act of grasping
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the action of taking a firm hold of something.
n. the gerund form denoting the action of applying a grip or grasp.
“The proper gripping of the golf club is essential for a good swing.”
“The mechanical arm's gripping of the delicate glass components required precise calibration to avoid structural failure.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'find'.
Real-World Examples
“Even as rain has returned, experts are warning that the drought gripping large swathes of the UK will not immediately come to an end .” “When Joe Biden decided it was “time to end America’s longest war”, he set in motion a tragic and shameful train of events, dramatised in this gripping thriller.” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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