nab

verb

ˈnab How to pronounce nab (audio)
nabbed; nabbing
Synonyms of nab

transitive verb

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

Synonyms of nab

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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.
The only other debut album to nab the same honors in the past decade was Chris Stapleton, with Traveller. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026 Debuting in limited release from A24 was Chris Rock’s Misty Green, which nabbed $27,000 on Friday from six locations in New York and Los Angeles. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026 Many of the wines that were nabbed are beloved by the wine community the world over, such as Tignanello, one of the first Super Tuscans, a red wine that is blended entirely without white grapes. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 The acquaintance told police where Carrasco was hiding out and cops raced there and nabbed him. — Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 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

Rhymes for nab

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Browse Nearby Words

Naats'ihch'oh National Park Reserve
nab
Nabal
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Cite this Entry

“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nab. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nab

verb
ˈnab How to pronounce nab (audio)
nabbed; nabbing
1
: to seize and take into custody : arrest
2
: to seize suddenly
especially : steal entry 1 sense 2a
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