Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense seizes, present participle seizing, past tense, past participle seized
1. verb
If you seize something, you take hold of it quickly, firmly, and forcefully.
'Leigh,' he said, seizing my arm to hold me back. [VERB noun]
...an otter seizing a fish. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: grab, grip, grasp, take More Synonyms of seize
2. verb
When a group of people seize a place or seize control of it, they take control of it quickly and suddenly, using force.
Troops have seized the airport and railroad terminals. [VERB noun]
Army officers plotted a failed attempt yesterday to seize power. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: take by storm, take over, capture, take More Synonyms of seize
3. verb
If a government or other authority seize someone's property, they take it from them, often by force.
Police were reported to have seized all copies of this morning's edition of the newspaper. [VERB noun]
Bailiffs need a certificate from the county court to seize goods for rent arrears. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: confiscate, appropriate, commandeer, impound More Synonyms of seize
4. verb
When someone is seized, they are arrested or captured.
Two military observers were seized by enemy troops yesterday. [beVERB-ed]
Men carrying sub-machine guns seized the five soldiers and drove them away. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: capture, catch, arrest, get More Synonyms of seize
5. verb
When you seize an opportunity, you take advantage of it and do something that you want to do.
During the riots hundreds of people seized the opportunity to steal property. [VERB noun]
The government now hopes to seize the initiative on education. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: jump at, exploit, take advantage of, pounce on More Synonyms of seize
Phrasal verbs:
See seize on
See seize up
seize in British English
(siːz)
verb(mainly tr)
1. (also intr; foll byon )
to take hold of quickly; grab
she seized her hat and ran for the bus
2. (sometimes foll byon or upon)
to grasp mentally, esp rapidly
she immediately seized his idea
3.
to take mental possession of
alarm seized the crowd
4.
to take possession of rapidly and forcibly
the thief seized the woman's purse
5.
to take legal possession of; take into custody
6.
to take by force or capture
the army seized the undefended town
7.
to take immediate advantage of
to seize an opportunity
8. nautical
to bind (two ropes together or a piece of gear to a rope)
See also serve (sense 19)
9. (intransitive; often foll byup)
(of mechanical parts) to become jammed, esp because of excessive heat
10. (passive; usually foll byof)
to be apprised of; conversant with
11. the US spelling of seise
Derived forms
seizable (ˈseizable)
adjective
Word origin
C13 saisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre to position, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic satjan to set1
seize in American English
(siz)
verb transitiveWord forms: seized or ˈseizing
1.
a. Obsolete
to put in legal possession of a feudal holding
b.
to put in legal possession of a particular thing; assign ownership to
in the passive voice
seized of the lands
2.
a.
to take forcible legal possession of; confiscate
to seize contraband
b.
to capture and put into custody; arrest; apprehend
to seize a criminal suspect
3.
to take forcibly and quickly; grab
to seize power
4.
to take hold of suddenly or forcibly, with or as with the hand; clutch
5.
a.
to suddenly penetrate, illumine, or fill the mind of
an idea seized him
b.
to grasp with the mind, esp. in a sudden or intuitive way
seized their intent
6.
to take quick advantage of (an opportunity, etc.)
7.
to attack or afflict suddenly or severely
seized with a fit of sneezing
8. Nautical
to fasten together (ropes, etc.), as by lashings; bind; lash
verb intransitive
9.
to stick or jam, esp. because of excessive heat or friction
said of a machine or its moving parts: often with up
SIMILAR WORDS: take
Idioms:
seize on
Derived forms
seizable (ˈseizable)
adjective
seizer (ˈseizer)
noun
Word origin
ME saisen < OFr saisir < ML sacire, prob. < Frank *sakjan, to lay claim to one's rights < IE base *sāg- > sake1
More idioms containing
seize
seize the day
Examples of 'seize' in a sentence
seize
They were quickly seized by student protesters anxious to distance themselves from the act.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The problem is that the past insists on seizing hold of the present.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We knew we had to seize the opportunity to make that genre our own.
The Sun (2014)
The invention of photography was also quickly seized on as proof of the supernatural world.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The fish had apparently seized hold as the calf was drinking.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This government must seize its opportunity and forge ahead.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was a chance for them to seize the opportunity and they did that.
The Sun (2012)
Criminals who owe millions of pounds in legal aid face having their cars and assets seized under government plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The Government must seize the initiative now.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But it was quickly seized on by 1D fans.
The Sun (2015)
It may be necessary to seize power by force, but only when such seizure already has mass approval.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
The oilfield provided roughly half of Khartoum's oil until the troops seized control.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Security forces seized explosives, weapons and tapes of religious sermons, the official added.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
seize
British English: seize /siːz/ VERB
If you seize something, you take hold of it quickly and firmly.
He seized my arm.
American English: seize
Arabic: يَقْبِضُ عَلَى
Brazilian Portuguese: apoderar-se
Chinese: 查获
Croatian: uhvatiti
Czech: popadnout
Danish: gribe
Dutch: in beslag nemen
European Spanish: agarrar
Finnish: tarttua
French: saisir
German: ergreifen
Greek: τσακώνω
Italian: afferrare
Japanese: ぐいとつかむ
Korean: 잡다
Norwegian: beslaglegge
Polish: chwycić
European Portuguese: apoderar-se
Romanian: a apuca
Russian: схватить
Latin American Spanish: agarrar aprehender
Swedish: gripa
Thai: ฉกฉวย
Turkish: yakalamak
Ukrainian: хапати
Vietnamese: nắm lấy
All related terms of 'seize'
seise
to put into legal possession of (property, etc)
seize on
If you seize on something or seize upon it, you show great interest in it, often because it is useful to you.
seize up
If a part of your body seizes up , it suddenly stops working , because you have strained it or because you are getting old .
Louis Seize
of or relating to the style of furniture , decoration , and architecture of the time of Louis XVI of France, belonging to the late French rococo and early neoclassicism
seize assets
The assets of a company or a person are all the things that they own.
seize a chance
If you have a chance to do something, you have the opportunity to do it.
seize the day
said when you are advising someone to do what they want straight away, and not to worry about the future
seize a computer
A computer is an electronic machine that can store and deal with large amounts of information .
seize an opportunity
An opportunity is a situation in which it is possible for you to do something that you want to do.
Chinese translation of 'seize'
seize
(siːz)
vt
[person, object, opportunity]抓住 (zhuāzhù)
[power, control]夺(奪)取 (duóqǔ)
[building, territory]占(佔)据(據) (zhànjù)
[hostage]俘获(獲) (fúhuò)
[property]没(沒)收 (mòshōu)
1 (verb)
Definition
to take hold of forcibly or quickly
an otter seizing a fish
Synonyms
grab
I managed to grab her hand.
grip
She gripped his hand tightly.
grasp
He grasped both my hands.
take
She took the bike by the handles before it swerved into the ditch.
snatch
He snatched the telephone from me.
clutch
I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support.
snap up
pluck
He plucked the pen from behind his ear.
fasten
latch on to
lay hands on
catch or take hold of
Opposites
let go
,
loose
2 (verb)
Definition
to take by force or capture
Troops have seized the airport and radio stations.
Synonyms
take by storm
take over
capture
The army has captured a strategic city in the north.
take
acquire
occupy
Alexandretta had been occupied by the French in 1918.
conquer
Early in the eleventh century the whole of England was again conquered by the Vikings.
overrun
annex
Rome annexed the Nabatean kingdom in 106 AD.
usurp
Did she usurp his place in his mother's heart?
3 (verb)
Definition
to take legal possession of
Police were reported to have seized all copies of the newspaper.
Synonyms
confiscate
They confiscated weapons, ammunition and propaganda material.
appropriate
Several other newspapers have appropriated the idea.
commandeer
The soldiers commandeered vehicles in the capital.
impound
The police arrested him and impounded the cocaine.
take possession of
Earl had taken possession of the gun.
requisition
The vessel was requisitioned by the navy.
sequester
Everything he owned was sequestered.
expropriate (formal)
The Bolsheviks expropriated the property of the landowners.
sequestrate
Opposites
relinquish
,
hand back
4 (verb)
Definition
to take by force or capture
seize the means of production
Synonyms
capture
The police gave chase and captured him as he was trying to escape.
catch
Police say they are confident of catching the killer.
arrest
Seven people were arrested for minor offences.
get
The police have got the killer.
nail (informal)
The police have been trying to nail him for years.
grasp
collar (informal)
As Kerr fled towards the exit, Boycott collared him.
hijack
Two men tried to hijack a plane on a flight from Riga to Murmansk.
abduct
She was charged with abducting a six-month-old child.
nab (informal)
He stayed on the run for weeks before the authorities nabbed him.
apprehend
Police have not apprehended the perpetrator.
take captive
Opposites
free
,
release
,
set free
,
turn loose
5 (verb)
Definition
to take immediate advantage of
During the riots people seized the opportunity to steal property.
Synonyms
jump at
exploit
Casual workers are being exploited for very low wages.
take advantage of
pounce on
snatch
seize on
leap at
phrasal verb
See seize on something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abduct
Definition
to remove (a person) by force
She was charged with abducting a six-month-old child.
Synonyms
kidnap,
seize,
carry off,
run off with,
run away with,
make off with,
snatch (slang)
in the sense of annex
Definition
to take without permission
Rome annexed the Nabatean kingdom in 106 AD.
Synonyms
seize,
take over,
appropriate,
acquire,
occupy,
conquer,
expropriate (formal),
arrogate
in the sense of apprehend
Definition
to arrest and take into custody
Police have not apprehended the perpetrator.
Synonyms
arrest,
catch,
lift (slang),
nick (slang, British),
capture,
seize,
run in (slang),
take,
nail (informal),
bust (informal),
collar (informal),
pinch (informal),
nab (informal),
take prisoner,
feel your collar (slang)
Synonyms of 'seize'
seize
Explore 'seize' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appropriate
Definition
to take for one's own use without permission
Several other newspapers have appropriated the idea.
Synonyms
seize,
take,
claim,
assume,
take over,
acquire,
confiscate,
annex,
usurp,
impound,
pre-empt,
commandeer,
take possession of,
expropriate (formal),
arrogate
in the sense of arrest
Definition
to take (a person) into custody
Seven people were arrested for minor offences.
Synonyms
capture,
catch,
lift (slang),
nick (slang, British),
seize,
run in (slang),
nail (informal),
bust (informal),
collar (informal),
take,
detain,
pinch (informal),
nab (informal),
apprehend,
take prisoner,
take into custody,
lay hold of,
feel your collar (slang),
cop (slang)
in the sense of catch
Definition
to capture (a person or a fish or animal)
Police say they are confident of catching the killer.
Synonyms
capture,
arrest,
trap,
seize,
nail (informal),
nab (informal),
snare,
lift (slang),
apprehend,
ensnare,
entrap,
feel your collar (slang)
in the sense of clutch
Definition
to seize with or as if with hands or claws
I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support.
Synonyms
seize,
catch,
grab,
grasp,
snatch
in the sense of collar
Definition
to seize
As Kerr fled towards the exit, Boycott collared him.
Synonyms
seize,
catch,
arrest,
appropriate,
grab,
capture,
nail (informal),
nab (informal),
apprehend,
lay hands on
in the sense of commandeer
Definition
to take as if by right
The soldiers commandeered vehicles in the capital.
Synonyms
seize,
appropriate,
hijack,
confiscate,
requisition,
sequester,
expropriate (formal),
sequestrate
in the sense of conquer
Definition
to gain possession of (a place) by force or war
Early in the eleventh century the whole of England was again conquered by the Vikings.
Synonyms
seize,
obtain,
acquire,
occupy,
overrun,
annex,
win
in the sense of exploit
Definition
to take advantage of a person or situation for one's own ends
Casual workers are being exploited for very low wages.
Synonyms
take advantage of,
abuse,
use,
manipulate,
milk,
misuse,
dump on (slang),
ill-treat,
shit on (taboo, slang),
play on or upon
in the sense of expropriate
Definition
(of a government or other official body) to take (money or property) away from its owners
The Bolsheviks expropriated the property of the landowners.
Synonyms
seize,
take,
appropriate,
confiscate,
assume,
take over,
take away,
commandeer,
requisition,
arrogate
in the sense of get
The police have got the killer.
Synonyms
arrest,
catch,
grab,
capture,
trap,
seize,
take,
nail (informal),
collar (informal),
nab (informal),
apprehend,
take prisoner,
take into custody,
lay hold of
Additional synonyms
in the sense of grasp
Definition
to grip firmly
He grasped both my hands.
Synonyms
grip,
hold,
catch,
grab,
seize,
snatch,
clutch,
clinch,
clasp,
lay or take hold of
in the sense of grip
Definition
to take a tight hold of
She gripped his hand tightly.
Synonyms
grasp,
hold,
catch,
seize,
clutch,
clasp,
latch on to,
take hold of
in the sense of hijack
Definition
to seize control of or divert (a vehicle or aircraft) while travelling
Two men tried to hijack a plane on a flight from Riga to Murmansk.
Synonyms
seize,
take over,
commandeer,
expropriate (formal),
skyjack
in the sense of impound
Definition
to take legal possession of
The police arrested him and impounded the cocaine.
Synonyms
confiscate,
appropriate,
seize,
commandeer,
sequester,
expropriate (formal),
sequestrate
in the sense of nab
Definition
to arrest (someone)
He stayed on the run for weeks before the authorities nabbed him.
Synonyms
catch,
arrest,
apprehend,
seize,
lift (slang),
nick (slang, British),
grab,
capture,
nail (informal),
collar (informal),
snatch,
catch in the act,
feel your collar (slang)
in the sense of nail
Definition
to arrest or catch (someone)
The police have been trying to nail him for years.
Synonyms
catch,
arrest,
capture,
apprehend,
lift (slang),
trap,
nab (informal),
snare,
ensnare,
entrap,
feel your collar (slang)
in the sense of occupy
Definition
to move in and take control of (a country or other place)
Alexandretta had been occupied by the French in 1918.
Synonyms
invade,
take over,
capture,
seize,
conquer,
keep,
hold,
garrison,
overrun,
annex,
take possession of,
colonize,
cybersquat
in the sense of pluck
Definition
to sound the strings of (a musical instrument) with the fingers or a plectrum
He plucked the pen from behind his ear.
Synonyms
tug,
catch,
snatch,
clutch,
jerk,
yank,
tweak,
pull at
in the sense of requisition
Definition
to demand and take for use, esp. for military or public use
The vessel was requisitioned by the navy.
Synonyms
take over,
appropriate,
occupy,
seize,
confiscate,
commandeer,
take possession of,
sequester
in the sense of sequester
Definition
Everything he owned was sequestered.
Synonyms
take,
seize,
confiscate,
appropriate,
impound,
commandeer,
take possession of,
expropriate (formal),
arrogate,
sequestrate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of snatch
Definition
to seize or grasp (something) suddenly
He snatched the telephone from me.
Synonyms
grab,
seize,
wrench,
wrest,
take,
grip,
grasp,
clutch,
take hold of
in the sense of take
She took the bike by the handles before it swerved into the ditch.