Definition

1. Noun:

   • A firm hold or grasp: The act of holding something tightly with the hand or fingers.
   • Understanding or control: A comprehensive understanding of a subject or a firm control over a situation.
   • A part designed for holding: The part of an object shaped to be held by the hand.
   • A hairpin: A flat wire pin with prongs that press together, used to hold hair in place (chiefly British).
   • A worker on a film set: A person responsible for moving cameras and equipment.
   • Friction for traction: The adhesive friction between a surface and an object moving across it, such as a tire on the road.
   • A traveling bag: A small rectangular bag for carrying personal items (archaic).

2. Verb:

   • To hold tightly: To take and keep a very firm hold of something.
   • To seize the attention or mind: To have a powerful effect on someone's attention, emotions, or imagination.
   • To maintain traction: (Of a mechanical part like a brake or tire) to engage effectively with a surface.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He tightened his grip on the handlebars. (He held the handlebars more tightly.)
  • She has a good grip on the company's finances. (She has a strong understanding and control of the finances.)
  • The tennis racket has a comfortable grip. (The part of the racket you hold is comfortable.)
  • The car's tires have excellent grip on wet roads. (The tires provide good friction on wet roads.)

• Verb:

  • The child gripped her mother's hand. (The child held her mother's hand very tightly.)
  • The horror movie gripped the audience from start to finish. (The movie seized the audience's attention completely.)
  • Make sure the brakes grip properly before driving downhill. (Ensure the brakes engage with the wheels effectively.)

Advanced Usage

• To come/get to grips with something: To begin to understand and deal with a problem or situation seriously.

  • I need to come to grips with this new software. (I need to seriously start understanding this new software.)

• To be in the grip of something: To be experiencing or controlled by something powerful and unpleasant.

  • The country was in the grip of a severe recession. (The country was suffering from a severe recession.)

• To lose one's grip (on something): To lose control, understanding, or ability.

  • He felt he was losing his grip on reality. (He felt he was losing touch with what was real.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gripping (adj.): Extremely interesting and holding one's attention fully.
  • It was a gripping novel. (It was a very compelling novel.)
• Gripper (n.): A device or person that grips.
• Gripsack (n.): An old-fashioned term for a small traveling bag.

Synonyms

• Noun (hold): Grasp, clasp, clutch, hold.
• Noun (understanding): Understanding, comprehension, mastery, command.
• Verb (hold): Clutch, grasp, clasp, seize, hold.
• Verb (fascinate): Engross, enthrall, captivate, mesmerize.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Grip onto: To hold onto something very tightly.
  • She gripped onto the railing as the ship rolled. (She held the railing very tightly.)
• Grip at: To make a sudden, tight grasping motion toward something.
  • He gripped at the air as he fell. (He made a grabbing motion in the air.)

Related Idioms

• Get a grip (on yourself): To control your emotions and behave calmly.
  • Stop panicking and get a grip! (Calm down and control yourself!)
• Keep a tight grip on: To maintain strict control over something.
  • The manager keeps a tight grip on the budget. (The manager controls the budget very strictly.)

Noun

1. a flat wire hairpin whose prongs press tightly together; used to hold bobbed hair in place
   • in Britain they call a bobby pin a grip
2. an intellectual hold or understanding
   • a good grip on French history
   • they kept a firm grip on the two top priorities
   • he was in the grip of a powerful emotion
   • a terrible power had her in its grasp
3. worker who moves the camera around while a film or television show is being made
4. the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves (as between an automobile tire and the road)
5. a portable rectangular container for carrying clothes
   • he carried his small bag onto the plane with him
6. the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
   • he grabbed the hammer by the handle
   • it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip
7. the act of grasping
   • he released his clasp on my arm
   • he has a strong grip for an old man
   • she kept a firm hold on the railing

Verb

1. to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
   • The snake charmer fascinates the cobra
2. to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match
   • the two men grappled with each other for several minutes
3. hold fast or firmly
   • He gripped the steering wheel