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Definition of nab

nab

/næb/
nab
Past Simple:nabbed
•
Past Participle:nabbed
•
Present Participle:nabbing
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nab Lexical Profile

nab Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To catch or arrest someone doing something wrong or illegal (informal).

Example

"The security guard managed to nab the shoplifter before he reached the exit."

2

To take, grab, or obtain something quickly or opportunistically (informal).

Example

"She arrived early to nab the best seat in the lecture hall."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for nab

• Nearby Words

n'djamena
naan
naartjie
nab
nachi
nacho
nada

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 17th century as cant or slang, probably a variant of the dialectal verb 'nap' meaning to seize or catch, which is likely of Scandinavian origin.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nab. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nab
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