Grip Meaning
/ˈɡɹɪp/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo take hold (of), particularly with the hand.
verbTo figuratively take hold of or grasp.
Sentence Examples
Tom got a grip on his emotions.
The wrestler has a formidable grip.
Keep a tight grip on the rope.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He had to ____ the rope tightly to avoid falling down the cliff.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The mountain climber maintained a firm ____ on the narrow rock ledge as she slowly pulled herself upward.
Word Origin & History
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).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him."
— 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
"[…] I lost something of the stifling fear that had gripped me, and could listen with more ease to what was going forward."
— [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
"On the western sector, General Maltby tried to free the Japanese grip on Shouson Hill and Repulse Bay by sending the Punjabis to advance from Aberdeen to clear the road."
— 1978, G. B. Endacott, “The Assault on the Island: the First Three Days”, in Hong Kong Eclipse, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 94:
"Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations."
— 2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
"The current president toppled his uncle in a violent coup in 1979, before sentencing him to death by firing squad. Since then, he has consolidated his grip over the country's industries and is accused of diverting tax money into his personal accounts."
— 2016 June 22, Max Bearak, “The world’s longest-serving president just appointed his son as VP”, in The Washington Post:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He had to ____ the rope tightly to avoid falling down the cliff.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The mountain climber maintained a firm ____ on the narrow rock ledge as she slowly pulled herself upward.