grip 1 of 2

noun

Definition of gripnext
1
as in suitcase
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles she placed her grip in the train's overhead rack and seated herself comfortably

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2
as in grasp
the act or manner of holding get a better grip on the lid and try to open the jar again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in understanding
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something he has a good grip on basic Spanish grammar and spelling

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4
as in control
the right or means to command or control others a tyrant that keeps the masses tightly in his grip

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5
as in handle
a part by which an implement is held bought new pots with heat-resistant grips

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grip

2 of 2

verb

ˈgrip How to pronounce grip (audio)
1
as in to clutch
to have or keep in one's hands gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill

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2
as in to fascinate
to hold the attention of as if by a spell that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit

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3
as in to interest
to hold the attention of that movie will grip any true sports car fan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to grasp
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms the baby gripped my fingers and wouldn't let go

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grip
Noun
The United States’ two largest reservoirs have dropped to unprecedented lows this year as drought grips the Southwest, but below the ground there’s another water crisis playing out — one that’s much less visible, but no less alarming. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026 In other words, there's often a whole lot more to that grip-and-grin photo than meets the eye. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
The Apology, written by Joe Murtagh (Say Nothing), follows Evelyn (Paltrow) and Caleb Amspoker whose son was murdered 18 years ago in a cold case that gripped the nation. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026 The Oscar winner will play Evelyn Amspoker, whose son was murdered 18 years ago in a cold case that gripped the nation. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grip
  1. suitcase
  2. grasp
  3. understanding
  4. control
  5. handle
  6. clutch
  7. fascinate
  8. interest
Noun
  • One standout is the Columbia Switchback IV Hooded Packable Jacket; its packable, water-repellant design keeps you prepared for unpredictable fall weather, even when suitcase space is limited.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Proffers continued to travel to the Soviet Union every year, each time returning with suitcases’ worth of manuscripts.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of suitcase
Noun
  • Falcons gain possession with fumble recovery Maason Smith continued a solid game by punching out the football from the grasp of 49ers running back Kaelon Black, a fumble recovered by Gervon Dexter Sr.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Both scores were a reflection of Martinez’s grasp of the game’s nuances.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of grasp
Noun
  • Kim Hong-Cheol, the South Korean military official, said leaving the dispute over the military demarcation line unresolved would increase the risk of accidental clashes because troops from both sides act on their own understanding of the line.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Communications leaders can help organisations anticipate the expectations those decisions will need to meet, bringing an understanding of customer concerns and public trust into the discussion before commitments are made.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of understanding
Noun
  • On September 19, Miller’s forecast gave the Republicans an almost 36% chance of retaining control of the upper chamber.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But two more scores from Rexroat of 5 and 54 yards maintained the Eagles’ control of the game.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of control
Noun
  • The goal is to preserve and restore as much as possible, eventually combining components like handles and aluminum bins from different kitchens to reconstruct a complete model for museums or similar academic and cultural institutions.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Metal forks are stored handles downward and plastic forks are positioned both directions for patron self service.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of handle
Verb
  • Those who consistently fall short are replaced by some of the dozens of applicants clutching résumés who queue up at the factory gate each morning.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Robotic claws whispered along branching tracks, clutching boxy carriers beneath them like prizes in an arcade game.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of clutch
Verb
  • Amid all the con artists and fraudsters this century has produced, Holmes is the one who fascinates us the most.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • He’s always been obsessed with historic epochs like the Civil War and World War II and fascinated with the post-war boom and the sojourns of Route 66.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of fascinate
Verb
  • What interests me most is the idea of giving young people an ownership stake in a company helping shape the future of space exploration.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Which is perhaps why the inclusion of Atari BASIC interests me more than another collection of retro games.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of interest

Phrases Containing grip

Browse Nearby Words

grins
grip
gripe
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Cite this Entry

“Grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grip. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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