grip

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled grup

US /ɡɹɪp/ See IPA manual

Freq #4854

Meanings

1

verb
To hold something tightly with your hand.

I gripped the railing as the boat rocked.
2

noun
A firm hold, especially with the hand.

He has a strong grip when shaking hands.
3

verb
To hold someone's attention completely.

The film gripped me from start to finish.
4

verb
To have a strong effect on someone, especially an emotion or situation.

As the water rose, panic gripped the crowd.
5

noun
An understanding or control of something.

She has a good grip on the subject.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to hold something tightly... clasp

5 noun · an understanding or control... grasp

Word family

Forms grippedgrippinggrips

Derived forms begripfloorgripforegripgrip-and-gringrip-cargrip-litgriplessgripmangrippablegrippergrippiegripping

Related forms hecka

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

pistol grip
a handle shaped like the grip of a pistol

Noun + noun

Idioms (2)

See all

Etymology

Verb from Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan, from a Proto-Germanic *gripjaną (compare Old High German gripfen); compare the related Old English grīpan, whence English gripe. See also grope, and the related Proto-Germanic *grīpaną. Noun from Middle English grippe, gripe, an amalgam of Old English gripe (“grasp, hold”) (cognate with German Griff) and Old English gripa (“handful”) (cognate with Swedish grepp).

grippen Middle English grippan Old English *gripjaną Proto-Germanic grippe Middle English gripe Old English gripa Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# grip

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ɡɹɪp/
**Frequency rank:** 4854

## Meanings
1. To hold something tightly with your hand.
2. A firm hold, especially with the hand.
3. To hold someone's attention completely.
4. To have a strong effect on someone, especially an emotion or situation.
5. An understanding or control of something.

## Examples
- I gripped the railing as the boat rocked.
- He has a strong grip when shaking hands.
- The film gripped me from start to finish.
- As the water rose, panic gripped the crowd.
- She has a good grip on the subject.

## Synonyms
- grasp

## Derived Forms
- begrip
- floorgrip
- foregrip
- grip-and-grin
- grip-car
- grip-lit
- gripless
- gripman
- grippable
- gripper
- grippie
- gripping

## Related Forms
- hecka

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: grippen
- Root: grippan
- Root: *gripjaną
- Root: grippe
- Root: gripe
- Root: gripa

## Etymology
Verb from Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan, from a Proto-Germanic *gripjaną (compare Old High German gripfen); compare the related Old English grīpan, whence English gripe. See also grope, and the related Proto-Germanic *grīpaną. Noun from Middle English grippe, gripe, an amalgam of Old English gripe (“grasp, hold”) (cognate with German Griff) and Old English gripa (“handful”) (cognate with Swedish grepp).

## AI Etymology
Grip: Verb from Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan, from a Proto-Germanic *gripjaną (compare Old High German gripfen); compare the related Old English grīpan, whence English gripe. See also grope, and the related Proto-Germanic *grīpaną. Noun from Middle English grippe, gripe, an amalgam of Old English gripe (“grasp, hold”) (cognate with German Griff) and Old English gripa (“handful”) (cognate with Swedish grepp). In current use, the main senses are “To hold something tightly with your hand” and “A firm hold, especially with the hand”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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