grasps

Seizes or understands

Grasps means seizes and holds firmly with the hand: She grasps the railing for balance.

Extended to understanding, grasp suggests getting a mental hold on something: He finally grasps the concept.

The noun refers to one's grip or reach: The prize was within her grasp.

In the plural, grasps often describes attempts to seize: desperate grasps at power.

understanding

comprehends

Mentally takes in

realizes · apprehends · recognizes · fathoms · conceives · absorbs · assimilates · gets · sees · follows

physical

grip

Secure manual hold

  • clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
  • claspSecuring device that clicks
  • squeezeFirm bilateral compression

clench · fingers · palm · hand · hold · seize · grab · snatch · cling · embrace

mastery

command

Authoritative instruction given

competence · skill · know-how · comprehension · knowledge · familiarity · understanding · savvy · acumen · finesse

reaching

lunges

Sudden forward movements

seeks · pursues · goes after · attempts

Categories
Opposites
physical holding

graspsreleases

Lets go or publishes

lets go · drops · relinquishes · loosens · frees

mental comprehension

graspsmisunderstands

Incorrectly interprets meaning

misses · misconstrues · misinterprets · overlooks · confuses

acquisition/possession

graspsgives

Transfers possession freely

surrenders · relinquishes · yields · cedes · forfeits

Phrases
Family

grasp, grasping, grasped, grasper, graspers, regrasped

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G