snatch
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to seize by a sudden or hasty grasp.
He snatched the old lady's purse and ran.
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to take, get, secure, etc., suddenly or hastily.
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to rescue or save by prompt action.
He snatched the baby from the fire.
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Slang. to kidnap.
noun
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the act or an instance of snatching.
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a sudden motion to seize something; grab.
He made a snatch as if to stop her.
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a bit, scrap, or fragment of something.
snatches of conversation.
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a brief spell of effort, activity, or any experience.
to work in snatches.
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Nautical. a sheave or projecting member serving as a fairlead.
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a brief period of time.
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Slang. an act of kidnapping.
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Slang: Vulgar. vulva; vagina.
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Weightlifting. a lift in which the barbell is brought in a single motion from the floor to an arms-extended position overhead.
verb
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(tr) to seize or grasp (something) suddenly or peremptorily
he snatched the chocolate out of my hand
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to seize or attempt to seize suddenly
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(tr) to take hurriedly
to snatch some sleep
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(tr) to remove suddenly
she snatched her hand away
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(tr) to gain, win, or rescue, esp narrowly
they snatched victory in the closing seconds
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(tr) (in weightlifting) to lift (a weight) with a snatch
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informal to leave a job, taking whatever pay is due
noun
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an act of snatching
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a fragment or small incomplete part
snatches of conversation
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a brief spell
snatches of time off
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weightlifting a lift in which the weight is raised in one quick motion from the floor to an overhead position
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slang an act of kidnapping
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slang a robbery
a diamond snatch
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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snatchernoun
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outsnatchverb (used with object)
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snatchableadjective
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unsnatchedadjective
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snatchinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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snatchsimple
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snatchessimple
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have snatchedperfect
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has snatchedperfect
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am snatchingprogressive
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are snatchingprogressive
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is snatchingprogressive
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have been snatchingperfect progressive
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has been snatchingperfect progressive
Past
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snatchedsimple
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had snatchedperfect
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was snatchingprogressive
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were snatchingprogressive
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had been snatchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of snatch
1175–1225; Middle English snacche (noun), snacchen (v.) < ?; cognate with Middle Dutch snacken
Explanation
When you snatch something, you grab it — either literally or figuratively. You might eagerly snatch the TV remote or your best friend's idea. Snatching can be nasty. You might snatch a lost balloon before it gets away, or snatch your cat before he can escape the room. The verb snatch can also be used in a figurative way, like when you snatch the first job offer that comes your way after graduating from college. The origin is most likely the Middle English word snacche, which means "to suddenly snap at," or in its noun form, "a trap."
Vocabulary lists containing snatch
"Thank You, M'am"
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Similes from Top AP English Exam Novels
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Because of Winn-Dixie
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
At one point, Nelson appears to snatch the other driver’s sunglasses from his forehead and heave them across the parking lot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
The marauding monkeys brazenly snatch ice cream, cakes and crisps from unwitting tourists in addition to gobbling abandoned leftovers from bins or food directly offered to them.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
But with Hannah Einbinder’s final ‘Hacks’ turn and a scene-stealing Michelle Pfeiffer in the wings, it may take another year for her to finally snatch it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Replays seemed to show the ball hitting Nicholson's head, rather than his raised hand, but Beaton awarded a spot-kick which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to snatch a 3-2 win.
From BBC ● May 13, 2026
She shot me a cautioning look, as if she sensed my urge to snatch it and tear it to shreds.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
They included bricks that would play snatches of the iconic theme song and emit coin-collecting sound effects as Mario characters moved around.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
In Costa Rica, a rufous-vented ground cuckoo snatches a cicada fleeing an army ant swarm.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026
She writes snatches of description and dialogue in her journal, but when she reads them later, her words jumble like hieroglyphs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2025
Filthy walls were scrawled with names, pleas and snatches of poetry.
From New York Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
He snatches me back from the edge of a thought spiral.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
American commandos snatched the pair from their compound in Caracas on January 3.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
He snatched up two cheap contracts for $240 in total and has already cashed out one of those contracts for $320.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Actor Tommy Dorfman snatched up the rights to write and direct the body thriller.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
The first time I interviewed him in 2001, an aide swooped in just before the cameras went live and snatched away the small water glasses on the table in front of us.
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
She snatched the phone out of his hand and hung it up, losing patience.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
In the end, Seattle outmaneuvered and outbodied the Sparks, snatching steals and flipping the ball around the perimeter until the Storm fired off a shot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The officer invoked this exception against Lau, snatching his green card and “paroling” him into the country.
From Slate ● Jun. 23, 2026
Anthropic, in particular, has been making high-profile hires, often snatching talent directly from the application-software companies that it’s disrupting.
From MarketWatch ● May 9, 2026
Callanan’s habit of taking a swipe at the American Ellmann in one footnote after another is almost endearing, even when it leaves the impression of snatching a piece of property back from an interloper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
People sprang to their feet, snatching up glasses and plates, scrambling for the stairs, while the cat clawed halfway up the curtain in consternation.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.