grasp
Pronunciation: [græsp]
Context: “physical action”
(verb) to hold something tightly in your hands. This is like when you pick up a toy or a cup and squeeze it to keep it from falling.
Example
She grasped the handle of the door before opening it.
Example
He couldn't grasp the slippery fish that kept escaping his hands.
Example
Can you grasp that ball without dropping it?
Context: “understanding”
(verb) to understand something fully. It’s like when you finally get a tricky math problem after thinking about it for a while.
Example
He grasped the concept of fractions quickly in class.
Example
She didn't grasp the idea of how to multiply fractions last week.
Example
Do you grasp what the teacher was explaining about the water cycle?
Context: “physical action”
(noun) a strong hold on something. Imagine when you are holding a toy tightly so it doesn't fall out of your hand.
Example
His grasp of the rope was firm, so he didn't slip while climbing.
Example
Her grasp on the pencil was too weak, and it fell to the ground.
Example
Is your grasp of the handle secure enough to safely lift it?
Context: “understanding”
(noun) the ability to understand something. Think about how you feel when you finally get why 2 plus 2 equals 4.
Example
Her grasp of the story made her able to retell it perfectly.
Example
He had a weak grasp of the main idea, so he didn't explain it well.
Example
Do you have a good grasp of the important points from the lesson?