snatch

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈsnætʃ/ 🇺🇸 /ˈsnætʃ/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To seize or grab something quickly, abruptly, or eagerly, often with a sudden movement.; To take or obtain something quickly or eagerly, especially an opportunity or advantage.; To kidnap or abduct someone, especially a child.; To take a brief or hurried period of something, such as sleep or rest.; In weightlifting, to lift a barbell from the floor to an overhead position in one continuous motion.
  2. noun
    An act of seizing or grabbing something quickly and abruptly.; A brief period or short spell of something.; A small fragment or portion of something, such as a piece of music or conversation.; The act of kidnapping someone.; In weightlifting, a lift in which the barbell is raised from the floor to an overhead position in one continuous movement.; Vulgar slang for the female genitalia.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: snatches 3rd sing.: snatches Past: snatched Past part.: snatched Pres part.: snatching

Collocations

snatch atsnatch upsnatch awayin snatchessnatch a glancesnatch victory from the jaws of defeat

Derivatives

snatchersnatchy

Synonyms

grabseizepluckwrenchyanktake

Antonyms

releaserelinquishgive

Commonly confused

grab
EN: 'grab' is more general and neutral; 'snatch' implies suddenness, quickness, and often forcefulness or stealth.
seize
EN: 'seize' suggests a firm, deliberate grasp often with authority; 'snatch' emphasizes speed and abruptness.
catch
EN: 'catch' implies intercepting something in motion; 'snatch' implies taking something away, often from someone else.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the 'tch' ending follows the short vowel pattern (like 'catch', 'match', 'watch'). Do not write 'snach' or 'snatsh'.

💬 Examples

  1. The thief snatched her purse and ran down the alley.

  2. She snatched the last ticket before it sold out.

  3. The child was snatched from the playground by a stranger.

  4. I managed to snatch a few hours of sleep between shifts.

  5. He snatched 180 kilograms to set a new personal record.

  6. He made a snatch at the rope but missed.

  7. We had a short snatch of conversation before the meeting began.

  8. I caught a snatch of their conversation as I walked past.

  9. The police are investigating the snatch of the millionaire's daughter.

  10. Her snatch was the best in the competition.