grip

About 7.42 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To take hold (of), particularly with the hand.

   That suitcase is heavy, so grip the handle firmly.

2. verb To figuratively take hold of or grasp.

   We need to grip this problem, not shut our eyes and hope it goes away.

3. verb Of an emotion or situation: to have a strong effect upon.

   As the water level began to rise, I was gripped by panic.

4. verb To firmly hold the attention of.

   The movie gripped me from beginning to end.

5. noun A hold or way of holding, particularly with the hand.

   It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.

6. noun Ability to resist slippage when pressed in contact with another object or surface.

   These tyres are worn out and don't have much grip.

7. noun A place to grip; a handle; the portion of a handle that the hand occupies.

   There are several good grips on the northern face of this rock.

8. noun Ellipsis of pistol grip.

Similar words

grasp clutches clench clutch hold on hold handle handgrip traction grapple

Often followed by

on of and the upon is was strength that

Word family

get a grip on gets a grip on getting a grip on got a grip on gripped gripper grippers gripping grips had a grip