Grasp
/ɡræsp/
nounverbB1
Definition
As a verb, grasp means to take hold of something tightly with your hand. As a noun, it means the act of holding or understanding something. It also means to understand an idea or fact clearly, often after thinking about it carefully.
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See It in Action
To hold something firmly with your hand
- •She grasped the rope tightly to avoid falling.
- •He grasped the cup and took a sip.
- •The child grasped his mother’s hand in the busy street.
To understand something clearly and completely
- •It took me a while to grasp the meaning of the poem.
- •She quickly grasped the instructions and started working.
- •He has a good grasp of English grammar.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "grasp" like "hold" (A1 word), but stronger and more careful—like you don’t want to drop it
- ✓Picture your hand closing tightly around a small ball so it won’t fall
- ✓It’s the feeling when you finally understand a difficult idea after trying for a while
- ✓Sounds like "grass" + "asp" → Imagine grabbing a piece of grass carefully without letting a snake (asp) bite you; you must hold it firmly and carefully
- ✓In stories, heroes often grasp a sword to protect themselves—holding it tightly means being ready
- ✓NOT like "touch" (just light contact), grasp means holding firmly and securely
- ✓NOT like "see" or "hear," grasp as understanding means deep knowledge, not just noticing
- ✓NOT like "guess" (which means to try without full knowledge), grasp means clear understanding
Try Other Words
- •Seize: to take hold quickly and firmly (Use when the action is sudden or forceful)
- •Understand: to know the meaning of something (Use when talking about mental grasp, not physical)
- •Grab: to take hold quickly and roughly (Use when the action is fast and less careful than grasp)
- •Comprehend: to understand fully (Use in formal or academic contexts for mental grasp)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix) — root word "grasp"
- •Etymology: From Old English "græpsian" meaning to seize or clutch
- •Historical development: Originally used for physical holding or seizing; later also used for mental understanding
- •Modern usage: Used both for physical action (holding) and mental action (understanding)
- •Interesting fact: The mental meaning of grasp is a metaphor from the physical action of holding tightly
Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel when you finally grasp a difficult idea after trying hard?
•Can grasping something physically help you understand it better mentally? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.She grasped the ___ tightly so it would not slip from her hand.
2.It took him several explanations to grasp the ___ of the problem.
3.Unlike just touching, to grasp something means to hold it ___ and carefully.
4.When you grasp an idea, you understand it ___, not just a little bit.
5.He tried to grasp the rope, but it was too ___ to hold.
6.You can grasp knowledge better when you ___ it slowly and clearly.
7.The child grasped her mother’s hand to feel ___ in the crowded place.