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 movie 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 Web
Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Already, parts of both regions are gripped by a winter storm that has killed at least four people, disrupted travel and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of households.
—J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025
Simon Hill, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
Much of the Midwest has been in the grips of severely cold temperatures, with thick snow falling across many states.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for grip 
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Verb
The region has been gripped by freezing weather this week with temperatures plunging into the mid-teens Monday night and barely climbing above the high 20s by Tuesday afternoon.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Already, parts of both regions are gripped by a winter storm that has killed at least four people, disrupted travel and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of households.
—J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
There are a couple of programmable buttons around back, rumble motors in the grips, and a handy multi-function button.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
Much of the Midwest has been in the grips of severely cold temperatures, with thick snow falling across many states.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for grip
Dictionary Entries Near grip
Cite this Entry
“Grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grip. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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