nab C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes US /næb/ UK /næb/ See IPA manual Minimal pairs Sounds like knob /æ/ vs /ɑ/ Sounds like neb /ɛ/ vs /æ/ Meanings 1 verb to catch or seize suddenly, especially a wrongdoer Police managed to nab the pickpocket before he fled the station. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to catch or seize suddenly,... catchseizegrabsnatchapprehendcollarcapturenick ↔ Opposites releasefreeliberate Word family Related forms napkidnap Etymology AI details First recorded in the late 17th century, perhaps from a Scandinavian source (compare Norwegian and Swedish dialect nappa, 'to catch, snatch'); related to nap in the sense of seizing. Topics Actions & Processes External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # nab **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /næb/ **IPA (UK):** /næb/ ## Meanings 1. to catch or seize suddenly, especially a wrongdoer ## Examples - Police managed to nab the pickpocket before he fled the station. ## Synonyms - catch - seize - grab - snatch - apprehend - collar - capture - nick ## Antonyms - release - free - liberate ## Related Forms - nap - kidnap ## Etymology First recorded in the late 17th century, perhaps from a Scandinavian source (compare Norwegian and Swedish dialect nappa, 'to catch, snatch'); related to nap in the sense of seizing. ## AI Etymology Nab has this etymological development: First recorded in the late 17th century, perhaps from a Scandinavian source (compare Norwegian and Swedish dialect nappa, 'to catch, snatch'); related to nap in the sense of seizing. The same word family includes nap, kidnap. Its current verb use means "to catch or seize suddenly, especially a wrongdoer". ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown