nab

verb

ˈnab How to pronounce nab (audio)
Definition of nabnext
1
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly a pickpocket nabbed my wallet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 nab Zarate was arrested at an apartment in Bellflower, while Acosta Serrano and the female minor were nabbed in a Huntington Beach apartment. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 Jones, an actor and filmmaker best known for starring in ITV’s crime drama Manhunt and directing The Almond and the Seahorse, was quite keen to nab the free director’s chair, too. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026 That turned his first-round matchup into a walkover for 10th-place finisher Alex Bowman, who nabbed the 32nd and final seed in the In-Season Challenge despite missing four races with vertigo. — ABC News, 28 June 2026 The Best Prime Day AirTag Deal The first-gen Apple AirTag nabbed our Editors' Choice award for the best Bluetooth tracker at the time of its release. — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
  1. arrest
  2. grab
  3. seize
  4. catch
  5. apprehend
  6. snatch
  7. detain
Verb
  • On July 1, Russian daredevils climbed to the tip of the building's spire before getting engaged, and then arrested.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Two people were arrested and charged with murder Thursday in the 2024 overdose death of a Fort Worth man, according to online jail records.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
Definition of arrest
Verb
  • Schieffelin, who played football last season because had used up his basketball eligibility, used his bulky frame to grab eight rebounds on an 11-point night.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Once the excitement had died down, the team gathered in a circle and a player went up to Haaland, grabbed the back of his neck and kissed his cheek.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • The party has focused on driving down consumer costs, seizing on what polling shows is deep dissatisfaction about the economy and worries about affordability.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who voted against the proposal in mid-June, voiced fears that the list of noncitizen voters would immediately be seized by federal immigration authorities.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • One villager had been bitten and is being treated in hospital, while a dozen locals had formed a team to catch the snakes, the Hongxing report said.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • But the rally ended when Hernández’s liner up the middle landed in the glove of Rockies right-hander Jimmy Herget, who just entered the game, catching Kyle Tucker off first base for a double play.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of catch
Verb
  • Photos from the match showed multiple people being apprehended or escorted away by security during the bizarre stoppage.
    — Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • Chavez, 19, ran from the scene, but was later apprehended.
    — Ciara McCarthy June 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2026
Definition of apprehend
Verb
  • In the end, Seattle outmaneuvered and outbodied the Sparks, snatching steals and flipping the ball around the perimeter until the Storm fired off a shot.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • An estimated 20 objects were snatched from the institution, in a country still reeling from the dramatic theft of its crown jewels from the Louvre in October.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of snatch
Verb
  • Officials confirmed that one person was detained in connection with the shooting, but did not confirm if the woman was the individual taken into custody.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Asylum seekers are getting detained at routine immigration check-ins, and cases are getting fast-tracked through the system.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of detain

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Cite this Entry

“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of nab for Spanish Speakers

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