View synonyms for seize

seize

[ seez ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

seized, seizing.

to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp:
to seize a weapon.
Synonyms: grab, clutch
to grasp mentally; understand clearly and completely:
to seize an idea.
to take possession of by force or at will:
to seize enemy ships.
to take possession or control of as if by suddenly laying hold:
Panic seized the crowd.
to take possession of by legal authority; confiscate:
to seize smuggled goods.
Also . Law. to put (someone) in seizin or legal possession of property (usually used in passive constructions):
She was seized of vast estates.
to capture; take into custody.
Synonyms: apprehend, arrest
Antonyms: release
to take advantage of promptly:
to seize an opportunity.
Nautical. to bind or fasten together with a seizing.

verb (used without object)

seized, seizing.

to grab or take hold suddenly or forcibly (usually followed by on or upon ):
to seize on a rope.
to resort to a method, plan, etc., in desperation (usually followed by on or upon ):
He must seize on a solution, however risky.
to have moving parts bind and stop moving as a result of excessive pressure, temperature, or friction (usually followed by up ):
The engine seized up from cold.
to have a seizure, as of epilepsy:
He seized for about five minutes and then lost consciousness.
(of melted chocolate) to become grainy and clumpy from overheating or from contact with a small amount of moisture (often followed by up ):
If the butter is too cold, the frosting will seize.

seize

/ siːz /

verb

also intrfoll byon to take hold of quickly; grab
she seized her hat and ran for the bus
sometimes foll byon or upon to grasp mentally, esp rapidly
she immediately seized his idea
to take mental possession of
alarm seized the crowd
to take possession of rapidly and forcibly
the thief seized the woman's purse
to take legal possession of; take into custody
to take by force or capture
the army seized the undefended town
to take immediate advantage of
to seize an opportunity
nautical to bind (two ropes together or a piece of gear to a rope) See also serve
introften foll byup (of mechanical parts) to become jammed, esp because of excessive heat
passiveusually foll byof to be apprised of; conversant with
the usual US spelling of seise

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Derived Forms

ˈseizable, adjective

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Other Words From

seiz·a·ble adjective
seiz·er Law. sei·zor [see, -zer, -zawr], noun
re·seize verb (used with object) reseized reseizing
un·seiz·a·ble adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of seize¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English saisen, seisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre “to place” (in phrase sacīre ad propriētam “to take as one's own, lay claim to”), from Frankish, perhaps akin to Gothic satjan “to set, put, place”; set

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Word History and Origins

Origin of seize¹

C13 saisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre to position, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic satjan to set ¹

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Synonym Study

See catch.

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Example Sentences

And they seized each opportunity to make each other laugh.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, the country has seized more fentanyl in the past five months than it did in the previous year.

From BBC

Pakistan's army says it has freed more than 300 hostages from a passenger train seized by militants in Balochistan province on Tuesday.

From BBC

Two sank, one was seized, and four sailors were killed.

From BBC

Zelensky has previously tried to persuade the Americans that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted, evidenced by the fact he broke the European-backed Minsk agreements after seizing Ukrainian territory in 2014.

From BBC

Related Words

sei whale seized

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