Verbs for Seizing and Holding

to stop and hold an object that is moving through the air

Be careful to catch the egg without breaking it.

to take hold of an object or surface rapidly or abruptly

He grabbed the railing tightly as he stumbled on the stairs, preventing himself from falling.

to suddenly and forcibly take hold of something

In a panic, she reached out to seize her falling phone before it hit the ground.

to quickly take or grab something, often with a sudden motion

He managed to snatch the hat from the wind before it blew away.

to take and tightly hold something

He reached out to grasp the handle of the door.

to seize or grab suddenly and firmly

He clutched the steering wheel tightly as he navigated through the winding mountain road.

to grip or hold tightly with one's hand

The child clasped the teddy bear tightly, finding comfort in its soft embrace.

to seize hold of someone forcefully or aggressively

The police officer grappled the suspect's arm, preventing them from escaping.

to tightly hold on to someone or something

She clung to the safety railing as she looked down from the balcony.

to have in your hands or arms

They held candles during the power outage.

to firmly grasp or support something with one's hands

As they descended the staircase, she was advised to hold on to the railing for balance and safety.

to firmly hold something

He had to grip the handle tightly to open the stubborn jar.

to grip or hold tightly

The weightlifter clenched the barbell tightly, preparing for a challenging lift.