26984 words

grasp

9 definitions • 13 examples
1
to quickly take something in your hand(s) and hold it firmly:

Examples:

Rosie suddenly grasped my hand.
2
If you grasp an opportunity, you take it eagerly:

Examples:

We must grasp every opportunity to strengthen economic ties with other countries.
3
to understand something, especially something difficult:

Examples:

I think I managed to grasp the main points of the lecture.
The government has acknowledged that homelessness is a problem but it has failed to grasp the scale of the problem.
4
the act of holding onto someone or something:

Examples:

He shook my hand with a very firm grasp.
5
the ability to get, achieve, or keep something:

Examples:

within your grasp The presidency at last looked within her grasp (= it looked possible that she might become president).
beyond your grasp Why is success always beyond my grasp (= impossible to get)?
slip from your grasp The gold medal slipped from his grasp (= he was unable to get it) in the last moments of the race.
lose your grasp on something I sometimes think that he's losing his grasp on reality (= his ability to judge what is real and what is not).
6

Examples:

He has a good grasp of the issues.
7
to take something quickly, in your hand, and hold it firmly:

Examples:

[ T ] I grasped his arm to keep from falling.
8
to understand, esp. something difficult:

Examples:

It was hard to grasp what the professor was getting at.
9
power to achieve or control something:

Examples:

A full partnership at last seemed to be within her grasp.

Navigation