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Gripped Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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gripped

[ɡrɪpt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

physical hold

Gripped is the past tense of grip, meaning to hold something tightly or firmly. It can also refer to having a strong emotional or mental hold over something.

Synonyms

clutched, grasped, held, seized.

Examples of usage

  • She gripped the steering wheel as the storm approached.
  • He was gripped by fear as he walked through the dark alley.
  • The athlete gripped the bat tightly before the pitch.
  • The audience was gripped by the suspenseful movie.
Context #2 | Verb

emotional control

In terms of emotional influence, to be gripped by something means to be dominated or enthralled by an emotion or situation. It suggests that the feeling is powerful and hard to escape from.

Synonyms

absorbed, captivated, enthralled, fascinated.

Examples of usage

  • He was gripped by a sense of urgency to finish the project.
  • The novel gripped her with its intense plot twists.
  • She was gripped by nostalgia after visiting her childhood home.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'gripped'

The word 'grip' originates from the Old English 'grippa,' which means to seize or grasp. It is related to the Middle Dutch word 'gripen' and the Old Norse 'grípa,' both of which convey a similar meaning of holding or grabbing. Over the centuries, the verb evolved but retained its core concept of holding something firmly. The transition to its past form, 'gripped,' follows the regular pattern of English verbs ending in '-p.' As the English language developed through contact with various other languages, the term maintained its significance in both physical and metaphorical contexts, demonstrating the action of holding tight or being powerfully affected by an emotion or event.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,485, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.