verb / noun

grab

GRAB/ɡræb/

To take or try to get something quickly or suddenly.

The runner grabs the falling water bottle, lunging down to catch it.

A young adult Latino male runner in a brick-red athletic shirt suddenly catches a blue water bottle that has slipped toward the ground. His right hand closes firmly around the bottle at a low angle while his torso lunges down. Clearly show thumb opposing fingers and the bottle securely gripped, one person, natural anatomy, a small ground shadow.

Etymology

grabMiddle Dutch or Middle Low Germanto seize

Grabben already meant taking hold of something. Early English use emphasized forceful or rough seizure; the selected sense emphasizes the suddenness or speed of that action.

In context

Crystal Clues3:48

the contestant will try to grab the mic and then after the mc's holding it with the strength of an iron grip the contestant just slowly is like okay well i'm gonna give up

How To Nail Your Onstage Question And Give Good Pageant Answers While On-The-Spot, Under Pressure

More examples

He made a grab for the loose rope.
We grabbed a quick lunch between meetings.
They are grabbing every chance to practice.

Forms

grab · grabs · grabbed · grabbing

Similar words

snatch: Often suggests a sharper or more forceful quick taking.
seize: May suggest force or firm control rather than simple haste.