snatch
1 of 2verb
ˈsnach 
snatched; snatching; snatches
intransitive verb
: to attempt to seize something suddenly
transitive verb
: to take or grasp abruptly or hastily
snatch up a pen
snatched the first opportunity
also : to seize or take suddenly without permission, ceremony, or right
snatched a kiss
snatcher noun
snatch
2 of 2noun
1
a
: a brief period
caught snatches of sleep
b
: a brief, fragmentary, or hurried part : bit
caught snatches of the conversation
2
a
: a snatching at or of something
b
slang : an act or instance of kidnapping
3
: a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised from the floor directly to an overhead position in a single motion compare clean and jerk, press
4
vulgar : the female pudenda
Synonyms
Verb
- bag
- capture
- catch
- collar
- cop [slang]
- corral
- get
- glom
- grab
- grapple
- hook
- land
- nab
- nail
- net
- nobble [British slang]
- rap
- seize
- snag
- snap (up)
- snare
- trap
Noun
- abduction
- hijacking
- highjacking
- kidnapping
- kidnaping
- rape
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb An eagle swooped down and snatched one of the hens. She snatched the toy from his hands. Noun to the police chief, it didn't look like a snatch, but another case of a bride-to-be getting cold feet
Recent Examples on the Web
Ed White, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2022 Just a few days ago, the Orlando Pride were celebrating a last-second penalty by Toni Pressley to snatch a draw from the clutches of a loss. Austin David, Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2022 The available answer seems to be an abiding paranoia on Mrs. Clinton’s part that an unrelated problem, her email case from her time as secretary of state, might yet pop up to snatch the prize from her grasp. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 3 May 2022 In videos widely circulated online, Bickett is seen attempting to snatch an extendable baton from Yu's hands as the officer fell to the ground. Reuters, CNN, 8 Feb. 2022 Not helping the matter is how scalpers continue to snatch up PS5 supplies from retailers. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 2 Feb. 2022 Regardless of their poor relationship with Santos, this puts them in good stead to snatch the duo from the grasp of rivals Real Madrid - who bought Rodrygo from them in 2018 and other interested parties. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2022 There was little surprise when she was announced as one of the all-winner cast members for All Stars 7 that the queen was more than ready to snatch wigs, and maybe even the crown. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 27 July 2022 Then again, who wouldn’t fancy a 6-foot-11 left-hander who can snatch a rebound, create his own fast break and either pull up for a 3-pointer, deliver a precise pass or drive for a dunk? New York Times, 6 July 2022 Joseph Geha, The Mercury News, 8 June 2017 The text, sung by two sopranos, may well have been in Esperanto, as only snatches were decipherable. Alan G. Artner, chicagotribune.com, 4 June 2017 The beat is now peppy with drum and snatches of piano, a common Beatles rhythm. Nicholas Dawidoff, The Atlantic, 18 May 2017 Some were able to hear snatches of melody as subtle as the scraping together of grass-blades or the throbbing of the brittle tissue of insects. Ben Lerner, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2017 The accidental comedy of some of the conversations even led the program BBC Newsnight to dramatize snatches of dialogue, with the voices of both the American president and the British prime minister played by the impressionist Rory Bremner. Robert Mackey, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2016 See More
Verb
The government has portrayed Fox and Croft as leaders of a wild plan to snatch Whitmer at her vacation home in Elk Rapids, Michigan, and trigger chaos across the U.S. Ed White, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2022 Just a few days ago, the Orlando Pride were celebrating a last-second penalty by Toni Pressley to snatch a draw from the clutches of a loss. Austin David, Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2022 The available answer seems to be an abiding paranoia on Mrs. Clinton’s part that an unrelated problem, her email case from her time as secretary of state, might yet pop up to snatch the prize from her grasp. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 3 May 2022 In videos widely circulated online, Bickett is seen attempting to snatch an extendable baton from Yu's hands as the officer fell to the ground. Reuters, CNN, 8 Feb. 2022 Not helping the matter is how scalpers continue to snatch up PS5 supplies from retailers. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 2 Feb. 2022 Regardless of their poor relationship with Santos, this puts them in good stead to snatch the duo from the grasp of rivals Real Madrid - who bought Rodrygo from them in 2018 and other interested parties. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2022 There was little surprise when she was announced as one of the all-winner cast members for All Stars 7 that the queen was more than ready to snatch wigs, and maybe even the crown. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 27 July 2022 Then again, who wouldn’t fancy a 6-foot-11 left-hander who can snatch a rebound, create his own fast break and either pull up for a 3-pointer, deliver a precise pass or drive for a dunk? New York Times, 6 July 2022 Noun
While there hasn’t been a particular rash of private sales scams in the city lately, Bosques recalled a case the FBI cracked with the help of a Fremont detective who was investigating a snatch-and-grab robbery at a coffee shop in 2012. Joseph Geha, The Mercury News, 8 June 2017 The text, sung by two sopranos, may well have been in Esperanto, as only snatches were decipherable. Alan G. Artner, chicagotribune.com, 4 June 2017 The beat is now peppy with drum and snatches of piano, a common Beatles rhythm. Nicholas Dawidoff, The Atlantic, 18 May 2017 Some were able to hear snatches of melody as subtle as the scraping together of grass-blades or the throbbing of the brittle tissue of insects. Ben Lerner, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2017 The accidental comedy of some of the conversations even led the program BBC Newsnight to dramatize snatches of dialogue, with the voices of both the American president and the British prime minister played by the impressionist Rory Bremner. Robert Mackey, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2016 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English snacchen to snap, seize; akin to Middle Dutch snacken to snap at
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun
1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing snatch
Kids Definition
snatch 1 of 2
verb
ˈsnach
snatched; snatching
: to take hold of or try to take hold of something quickly or suddenly
… he snatched up his towel. "I'm leaving," he called down the beach. Virginia Hamilton, M. C. Higgins the Great
Virginia Hamilton, M. C. Higgins the Greatsnatch
2 of 2noun
1
: something brief, hurried, or in small bits
snatches of old songs
2
: an act of taking hold of something quickly
3
: a brief period
I slept in snatches.
snatches 1 of 2
noun
as in rapes
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal to the police chief, it didn't look like a snatch, but another case of a bride-to-be getting cold feet Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rapes
- abductions
- kidnappings
- kidnapings
- highjackings
- hijackings
- seizures
- impressments
snatches
2 of 2verb
as in grabs
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly the brazen seagull snatched the french fry right from my hand Synonyms & Similar Words
- grabs
- catches
- seizes
- captures
- lands
- gets
- snags
- traps
- hooks
- nabs
- raps
- nets
- snares
- bags
- nails
- collars
- corrals
- grapples
- grasps
- gloms
- cops
- holds
- clutches
- nobbles
- gloves
- takes hold (of)
- snaps (up)
- arrests
- ropes
- grips
- detains
- secures
- apprehends
- fists
- kidnaps
- corners
- clasps
- lassos
- rends
- wrests
- abducts
- halters
- bays
- entraps
- ensnares
- meshes
- entangles
- enmeshes
- immeshes
- latches (on or onto)
- fastens (on)
- spirits (away or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misses
- drops
- releases
- frees
- liberates
- discharges
- loosens
- unhands