German word

ergreifen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈgʁaɪ̯fən/

Meaning

  • verbgrab

Example

Das Kind ergreift den Ball.

The child grabs the ball.

Illustration for ergreifen (grab)

More examples

Er nahm all seinen Mut zusammen und ergriff den Moment.

He summoned all his courage and seized the moment.

Core concept

Something is seized so firmly that it stays in the hand, grips a person emotionally, or leads to immediate action.

Common phrases

  • den Moment ergreifen

    seize the moment

  • jemanden am Arm ergreifen

    grab someone by the arm

Similar words

packen: Take hold of something with considerable force.
anfassen: Make light contact with something by hand.
bewegen: Affect someone emotionally in a powerful way.
treffen: Take the necessary action in a situation.

Definition in German

mit der Hand etwas fest ergreifen; übertragen: ein starkes Gefühl hervorrufen oder schnell Maßnahmen ergreifen

Word origin

The modern verb preserves the older form ergrîfen, built from er- and greifen, a Germanic verb related to English "grip."

Usage tips

  • Jemanden ergreifen takes an accusative person when an emotion affects someone, as in "Die Angst ergriff ihn."

Other meanings

  • moveverb

Opposites

  • zögernhesitateverb
  • loslassenlet goverb

Related words

  • Ergriffenheitbeing movednoun
  • Ergriffenmovedadjective

Word lists with this word