Word
nab
US/ˈnæb/
UK/nˈæb/
Definition
v. to catch someone doing something wrong or to grab something quickly. You might use this when the police catch a thief or when you take the last cookie.
v. To catch or arrest someone, particularly in the act of committing a crime; alternatively, to seize or snatch something suddenly.
Examples
“The police managed to nab the thief near the park.”
“I managed to nab the last seat on the train just before the doors closed.”
“While the investigators hoped to nab the ringleader during the hand-off, they ultimately had to settle for a low-level courier who carried very little incriminating evidence.”
Examples
simple
“The police managed to nab the thief near the park.”
contextual
“I managed to nab the last seat on the train just before the doors closed.”
complex
“While the investigators hoped to nab the ringleader during the hand-off, they ultimately had to settle for a low-level courier who carried very little incriminating evidence.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“Farioli’s men offered an example of how when Guéhi’s ball short-changed Bouaddi, possession was nabbed, and suddenly William Gomes had to be stopped on the edge of City’s area.”