nabbed; nabbing

transitive verb

1
: to catch or seize in arrest : apprehend
2
: to seize suddenly

Examples of nab in a Sentence

We nabbed seats in the front row of the theater. the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In addition to bringing in Lattimore, the Commanders nab a fifth-round pick from New Orleans. Vincent Frank, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Product Details: Sizes: Twin XL, queen, and king | Pocket size: 15 inches | Material: Hemp | Certifications: GOTS certified The Bottom Line Ultimately, the Threshold Printed Performance Sheet Set nabbed the spot of the overall best bed sheets at Target. Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024 Fans nabbed a shot of Travis Kelce walking on the Eras Tour floor with Taylor Swift's security guard on Saturday. Bryan West, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024 The Washington native — who also made waves in season one of White Lotus — nabbed $65,000 for starring in HBO's 2023 crime drama Reality. Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nab 

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of English dialect nap

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nab was in 1686

Cite this Entry

“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nab. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nab

verb
nabbed; nabbing
1
: to seize and take into custody : arrest
2
: to seize suddenly
especially : steal entry 1 sense 2a

More from Merriam-Webster on nab

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!