- to arrest
- to seize suddenly; snatch
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
nab /næb/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], nabbed, nab•bing. [Informal.]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Informal Termsto arrest or capture:The police nabbed the crooks.
- Informal Termsto catch or seize, esp. suddenly:The kidnappers nabbed him as he got into his car.
nab
(nab),USA pronunciation v.t., nabbed, nab•bing. [Informal.]
nab′ber, n.
NAB,
- Informal Termsto arrest or capture.
- Informal Termsto catch or seize, esp. suddenly.
- Informal Termsto snatch or steal.
- Scandinavian; compare Danish nappe, Norwegian, Swedish nappa to snatch
- 1675–85; earlier nap; perh.
NAB,
- Also, N.A.B. National Association of Broadcasters.
- ReligionSee New American Bible.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
nab /næb/ vb (nabs, nabbing, nabbed) (transitive) informal
'nab' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):