grab

To take something quickly with your hand.

• Grab your coat.
• She grabbed my arm as I passed.
• He grabbed his keys and ran outside.

Similar words: snatch, seize

Common phrases: grab something, grab a bag, grab someone’s arm, grab someone’s hand

To suddenly receive a lot of attention in the news.

• The discovery grabbed headlines.
• Her surprise victory grabbed the headlines yesterday.
• Which stories will grab the headlines this week?

Similar words: make headlines

Common phrases: grab the headlines, grab headlines

To quickly reach towards something and try to take hold of it.

• She grabbed at the rope.
• He grabbed at a branch but missed.
• The child kept grabbing at my necklace.

How to use it: grab at someone/something (He grabbed at my sleeve as I walked away.)

Similar words: clutch at, reach for

Common phrases: grab at something, grab at someone

A sudden movement to try to take hold of something.

• He made a grab for my bag.
• Her first grab missed the rope.
• A quick grab saved the phone from falling.

How to use it: a grab for someone/something (She made a grab for the falling glass.)

Similar words: snatch

Common phrases: make a grab, grab for something