How to use clutch in a sentence

40 example sentences · verb, noun, adjective

Clutch means to seize, as though with claws. Example: “She clutched her purse tightly and walked nervously into the building.”

Examples of clutch by meaning

verbTo seize, as though with claws.

to clutch power

verbTo grip or grasp tightly.

She clutched her purse tightly and walked nervously into the building.

verbTo win despite being the only remaining player on one's team, against several opponents.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:clutch.

nounAn important or critical situation.

to come in clutch
And when it came to the clutch, Johnny Mize, who was washed up five years ago, would crack out a pinch double, or Mickey Mantle, who is not yet ready for the big leagues, would slam out a home run.1951 October 8, “Baseball: A Great Year”, in LIFE, page 48
He is the player who has come through so often in the clutch during his days at Camarillo.1985 June 1, Johannes Telesaar, “Camarillo Loses in the 4-A Final by a Foot at First”, in Los Angeles Times

adjectivePerforming or tending to perform well in difficult, high-pressure situations.

NC State made the most of their overtime possession scoring a touchdown on some very clutch plays.2006, Bryan Hogan, Three Days for Goodbye, page 19
I start with his most obvious characteristic: he was clutch.2009, Scott Trocchia, The 2006 Yankees: The Frustration of a Nation, A Fan's Perspective, page 21
It doesn't get more clutch than that!2009, Mark Stewart, Clutch Performers, →ISBN, page 34

nounA brood of chickens or a sitting of bird, monotreme or reptile eggs; a sitting.

This usually has the immediate effect of summoning the mother, who leads the chick back to the main clutch.1976, Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene, Kindle edition, OUP Oxford, published 2016, page 82

nounA group or bunch (of people or things).

Instead they would demand action from a new clutch of elected mayors, police commissioners and the like.2012 September 22, “Innovation in Government: Britain's Local Labs”, in The Economist

More sentences with clutch

Cigarette in mouth, he clutched his pockets in search of a lighter.From the entry lighter
This pedal engages the clutch, and until you do that you can't shift.From the entry engages
My car isn’t driveable at the moment: the clutch is totally mullered.From the entry mullered
Once the organization was in his clutches, her future there was bleak.From the entry clutches
Clutching my wounded side, I crawled back to the trench.From the entry crawl
Whenever I engage the clutch, the car stalls out.From the entry engage
Oona looked over to see her cousin jumping around, yelping and clutching his shorts.2025, Kate Korsh, chapter 9, in When Fairies Go Too Far (Oona Bramblegoop’s Sideways Magic; 4), New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam’s Sons…. From the entry what the what
As roots clutch the gully soil and cling to the slopesides.2022, Gregory Day, Words Are Eagles. From the entry slopeside
Chip clutched a basket brimming with real potatoes against his red flannel shirt.2020, Allison Marks, Wayne Marks, chapter 6, in Benny Feldman’s All-star Klezmer Band, Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Green Bean Books, Pen &…. From the entry rootin' tootin'
Their clothes were all stained by the sarcoline wall, some still clutched their paintings of heaven.2019, Sashique Lawrence, “Shooter”, in Brainstorm. From the entry sarcoline
The way Tariq was licking her kitty had her clutching the sheets.2017, CoCo Amoure [pseudonym], Falling For A Young Boss (Promise Me Forever; 2), [Atlanta, Ga.]: Sullivan Group Publishing, →ISBN. From the entry kitty
The famously tiny tyrannosaurian hands were clutched protectively to its chest.2017 September 27, Elsa Panciroli, The Guardian. From the entry tyrannosaurian
Nala wasn't the type to clutch her pearls and run home.2016, Cynthia Dane, The Nightingale Submits. From the entry clutch one's pearls
Could you fetch me some bobby pins?” She shoved the clutch into my hands.2016, Stephanie Scott, Alterations, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN. From the entry thanksies
There certainly looks to be a whole clutch of sure-fire winners among the 11 promised new productions.2014 April 29, Andrew Clements, “ENO's 14/15 season: some sure-fire winners, while Coliseum plans will strengthen the company”, in The…. From the entry sure-fire
The bagman clutching the nuclear football like an undertaker at a wedding.2013, Richard Doyle, Executive Action. From the entry bagman
Still the thing clutched him, tentacles wrapping his arm and snaking around his neck.2013 April, Chris A. Jackson, “A Surprise Engagement”, in Pirate’s Honor (Pathfinder Tales), Paizo, →ISBN, pages 113–114. From the entry cecaelia
You can also feather the clutch to keep from wheelying over, as well as using throttle control.2012, Gary LaPlante, “Hillclimbs”, in Steve Casper, editor, How to Ride Off-road Motorcycles: Key Skills and Advanced Training for All…. From the entry wheelie
Fanny struggled ungainfully to her feet, clutching her protesting back as she got up.2009, Lum Kit- Wye, In 5 Easy Steps. From the entry ungainfully
'Give it some welly,' she said to me as I eased off the clutch.2008, Alan McMonagle, Liar, Liar. From the entry give it some welly
Who benefits from seeing daily pictures of Madeleine McCann’s distraught mother clutching her missing child’s toy?2007 May 11, Mick Hume, “Portugal: let’s all make it worse”, in The Times, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05…. From the entry paedophile-phobia
Clutching at his shirt, her fingers traveled the muscles in his back.2006, Brenda Williamson, Wolverton Blood, page 53. From the entry purr
When he got to their nary, Olga was hysterical, clutching Anastasia to her bosom.2005, Anatole Kurdsjuk, The Long Walk Home with Miracles Along the Way. From the entry Nastia
Tight clutch control is needed, so keep the clutch pedal just above the biting point.2005, Driving Standards Agency, Driving: The Essential Skills, page 68. From the entry biting point
These they put carefully aside, like a clutch of large gray eggs.2004, Stephen King, “Hides”, in The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower, New York: Pocket Books, →ISBN, page 796. From the entry debrain
He stretches, then, clutching an armful of empty winebottles, he slips outside.2004, Craig Silvey, Rhubarb, Fremantle Press, →ISBN, page 28. From the entry winebottle
When he jackhammered into her, she clutched the bedspread and braced herself for the onslaught.2003, Beverly Barton, chapter 16, in Grace under Fire, New York: Silhouette, pages 218–219. From the entry jackhammer
“So,” I clutched my army jacket at my neck, “how does it feel to be a hundred-thousand-dollaraire?”2001 January 21, Steve Hermanos, Strange Jazz, United States: iUniverse, →ISBN, page 108. From the entry dollaraire
Harry reached for the towel, draped it over his head, and clutched it under his chin, madonnalike.2000, Dennis McFarland, Singing Boy, Waterville, Me.: Thorndike Press, published 2001, →ISBN, page 285. From the entry madonnalike

Meaning of clutch

verb To seize, as though with claws.
verb To grip or grasp tightly.
verb To win despite being the only remaining player on one's team, against several opponents.

Full definition of clutch

Questions about clutch in a sentence

How do you use clutch in a sentence?: Clutch is used as a verb, noun and adjective. For example: “She clutched her purse tightly and walked nervously into the building.”
What is a short sentence with clutch?: “to clutch power”
What does clutch mean?: Clutch means to seize, as though with claws.

Adapted from Wiktionary: clutch (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this page: “How to use clutch in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/clutch. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.