gripped; gripping
1
: to seize or hold firmly
gripped the door handle
2
: to hold the interest of strongly
a story that grips the reader
gripper
noun
1
a
: a strong or tenacious grasp
had a good grip on the tennis racket
b
: strength in gripping
c
: manner or style of gripping
the balanced grip of an expert golfer
2
a
: a firm tenacious hold typically giving control, mastery, or understanding
has the country in his grip
b
: mental grasp
can't seem to get a grip on [=gain a good understanding of] calculus
… I'm curious to see if preteens have a grip on this fairly sophisticated concept.—
John Hoffman
John Hoffman3
: a part or device for gripping
4
: a part by which something is grasped
especially
: handle
5
: suitcase
6
a
: a stage worker who handles scenery, properties, or lights : stagehand
b
: a technician on a motion-picture or television set who handles and maintains equipment (such as cameras and their dollies and cranes)
Synonyms
Examples of grip in a Sentence
Verb
The little boy gripped his mother's hand tightly.
I gripped the door handle and pulled as hard as I could.
The story really grips the reader.
The scandal has gripped the nation.
Noun
His tennis instructor showed him the proper backhand grip.
a golfer with an incorrect grip
He has been doing all he can to maintain his grip on the company's finances.
I need new grips for my golf clubs.
Recent Examples on the WebAbdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
His gaze locked on the infant as her tiny toes gripped the hardwood floors.
—Amber Ferguson, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Many of the effects of climate change play out at a very large scale: Heatwaves that grip entire continents.
—Kari Nadeau, STAT, 4 Apr. 2024
Pro sports prioritize grip strength training for obvious reasons (such as gripping a bat or a ball), but it’s seldom considered a staple in general fitness programs.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
Tulips In the 1630s, the Dutch were suddenly gripped by tulipomania, a Bitcoin-level frenzy during which a single bulb could fetch more per ounce than diamonds (at least, until the market crashed almost overnight).
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Our tester especially loved the herringbone design on the soles which helped grip the court while still allowing for pivots and other intentional sliding.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Millions of domestic fowl and hundreds of thousands of migratory birds around the world have died over the past four years, as the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), more commonly known as bird flu, continues to grip the globe.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
This gripping tale unfolds the story of a rugby team's fight for survival against insurmountable odds after their plane crashes into the mountains.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Helen Regan, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Yet as the Republican Party’s electoral grip on the white South tightened, and without the charismatic leadership of Reagan to unite the party, the divide between Reaganite fiscal conservatives and southern cultural conservatives deepened from the 1990s onwards.
—TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
The material also adds just enough grip to make the phone feel secure and generally pleasant to hold.
—PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
She is not frazzled, like the sweaty young mother trying to keep a grip on a slippery baby, a furious toddler and far too much carry-on.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Vehicle speed — When a vehicle’s speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
The setup has been designed to improve grip and reduce spring stiffness without compromising control.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
There’s plenty of grip on the outsole, and they’re also made with a water-resistant material.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Warm Water: If debris or minor obstructions are causing the problem, soaking the stuck zipper in warm water can help expand the fabric and loosen it the jam.
Pliers: Carefully using pliers to grip and gently wiggle the zipper pull can sometimes help release it from its stuck position.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
In interviews with a dozen survivors across Rwanda in the two days preceding the commemoration on Sunday, many spoke about the paroxysm of violence that gripped this lush, landlocked nation.
—Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
His gaze locked on the infant as her tiny toes gripped the hardwood floors.
—Amber Ferguson, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Many of the effects of climate change play out at a very large scale: Heatwaves that grip entire continents.
—Kari Nadeau, STAT, 4 Apr. 2024
Pro sports prioritize grip strength training for obvious reasons (such as gripping a bat or a ball), but it’s seldom considered a staple in general fitness programs.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
Tulips In the 1630s, the Dutch were suddenly gripped by tulipomania, a Bitcoin-level frenzy during which a single bulb could fetch more per ounce than diamonds (at least, until the market crashed almost overnight).
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Our tester especially loved the herringbone design on the soles which helped grip the court while still allowing for pivots and other intentional sliding.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Millions of domestic fowl and hundreds of thousands of migratory birds around the world have died over the past four years, as the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), more commonly known as bird flu, continues to grip the globe.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
This gripping tale unfolds the story of a rugby team's fight for survival against insurmountable odds after their plane crashes into the mountains.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
India is the world’s largest democracy but over a decade of BJP rule, analysts say the populist Modi has tightened his grip on its democratic institutions.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Yet as the Republican Party’s electoral grip on the white South tightened, and without the charismatic leadership of Reagan to unite the party, the divide between Reaganite fiscal conservatives and southern cultural conservatives deepened from the 1990s onwards.
—TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
The material also adds just enough grip to make the phone feel secure and generally pleasant to hold.
—PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
She is not frazzled, like the sweaty young mother trying to keep a grip on a slippery baby, a furious toddler and far too much carry-on.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Vehicle speed — When a vehicle’s speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
The setup has been designed to improve grip and reduce spring stiffness without compromising control.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
There’s plenty of grip on the outsole, and they’re also made with a water-resistant material.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Warm Water: If debris or minor obstructions are causing the problem, soaking the stuck zipper in warm water can help expand the fabric and loosen it the jam.
Pliers: Carefully using pliers to grip and gently wiggle the zipper pull can sometimes help release it from its stuck position.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan; akin to Old English grīpan
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of grip was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing grip
Dictionary Entries Near grip
Cite this Entry
“Grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grip. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
grip
1 of 2 verb
gripped; gripping
1
: to seize firmly
2
: to hold strongly the interest of
the story grips the reader
grip
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a firm grasp
b
: strength in gripping
c
: a way of clasping the hand by which members of a secret society recognize or greet one another
2
a
: a firm hold giving control
in the grip of winter
3
: a part or device for gripping or by which something is grasped
especially
: handle entry 1 sense 1
4
: suitcase
More from Merriam-Webster on grip
Nglish: Translation of grip for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of grip for Arabic Speakers
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