grip
verb · noun
Simple meaning
To take and keep a firm hold of something.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
gripIPA pronunciation (US)
ɡɹɪp
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
To take hold of, particularly with the hand.
“After a few slips, the tires gripped the pavement.”
noun
A hold or way of holding, particularly with the hand.
“It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.”
A tenacious grasp; a holding fast.
A device for grasping or holding fast to something.
Assistance; help or encouragement.
A lot of something.
“That is a grip of cheese.”
A channel cut through a grass verge (especially for the purpose of draining water away from the highway).
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: To take hold of, particularly with the hand.
Used this way, grip is a common word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
“After a few slips, the tires gripped the pavement.”
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
How It’s Used
The word’s distinct uses, one example each.
Takeverb
“After a few slips, the tires gripped the pavement.”
Holdnoun
“It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.”
Lotnoun
“That is a grip of cheese.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Similar Words, What’s the Difference?
Close in meaning, but not always interchangeable.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Deal with (a problem or a subject).
A handle (as of a gun or saw) shaped like the butt of a pistol.
A wrestling hold in which you wrap your legs around the opponents body or head and put your feet together and squeeze.
Deal with (a problem or a subject).
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API (CC BY-SA 3.0). Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.