seize
verb
ˈsēz 
seized; seizing
transitive verb
1
a
usually seise
ˈsēz
: to vest ownership of a freehold estate in b
often seise : to put in possession of something
the biographer will be seized of all pertinent papers
2
a
: to take possession of : confiscate
b
: to take possession of by legal process
3
a
: to possess or take by force : capture
b
: to take prisoner : arrest
4
a
: to take hold of : clutch
b
: to possess oneself of : grasp
c
: to understand fully and distinctly : apprehend
5
a
: to attack or overwhelm physically : afflict
seized with chest pains
b
: to possess (someone's thoughts, mind, etc.) completely or overwhelmingly
seized the popular imagination
Basil Davenport
Basil Davenport6
: to bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff (such as yarn, marline, or fine wire)
intransitive verb
1
: to take or lay hold suddenly or forcibly
2
a
: to cohere to a relatively moving part through excessive pressure, temperature, or friction —used especially of machine parts (such as bearings, brakes, or pistons)
b
: to fail to operate due to the seizing of a part —used of an engine
seizer noun
Synonyms
- appreciate
- apprehend
- assimilate
- behold
- catch
- catch on (to)
- cognize
- compass
- comprehend
- conceive
- cotton (to or on to)
- decipher
- decode
- dig
- discern
- get
- grasp
- grok
- intuit
- know
- make
- make out
- perceive
- recognize
- register
- savvy
- see
- sense
- tumble (to)
- twig
- understand
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The bank seized their property. The army has seized control of the city. A rebel group attempted to seize power. He suddenly seized the lead in the final lap of the race. He seized her by the arm. He tried to seize the gun from him. She was seized by kidnappers and carried off to a hidden location. He seized the chance to present his ideas to his boss. Seizing the moment, she introduced herself to the famous film director. See More
Recent Examples on the Web That’s the challenge Harsin has presented to his offense this week: When the opportunity arises to make a play, seize it. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2022 After Ukraine repelled a Russian thrust toward Kyiv in spring, Moscow’s forces captured some territory in its neighbor’s east by using artillery and airstrikes to demolish cities and then seize them. James Marson, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 Amid the undoubted challenges of a dynamic marketplace, opportunities abound and so do the potential ways to seize them. Lisa Caldwell, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 The most key challenges for me, personally, were sourced in the various fears that can seize you up and keep you from getting the job done right. John Hoffman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 The island’s people live under constant threat from a powerful authoritarian neighbor, China, which claims sovereignty over democratic Taiwan and vows to seize it by force if necessary. Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 3 July 2022 The erratic movements of the boat show the increasing desperation of oligarchs to keep their ships off the radar of governments trying to seize them. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 26 May 2022 Kaul, like Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, has advocated for universal background checks and a red-flag law that would allow family members and police to ask judges to seize guns from people who might pose a threat. Todd Richmond, ajc, 26 Aug. 2022 Mills, on the other hand, opposes gun control efforts, including red-flag laws that allow law enforcement to temporarily seize firearms from people suspected of being dangerous. Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2022 See More
Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2022 After Ukraine repelled a Russian thrust toward Kyiv in spring, Moscow’s forces captured some territory in its neighbor’s east by using artillery and airstrikes to demolish cities and then seize them. James Marson, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 Amid the undoubted challenges of a dynamic marketplace, opportunities abound and so do the potential ways to seize them. Lisa Caldwell, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 The most key challenges for me, personally, were sourced in the various fears that can seize you up and keep you from getting the job done right. John Hoffman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 The island’s people live under constant threat from a powerful authoritarian neighbor, China, which claims sovereignty over democratic Taiwan and vows to seize it by force if necessary. Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 3 July 2022 The erratic movements of the boat show the increasing desperation of oligarchs to keep their ships off the radar of governments trying to seize them. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 26 May 2022 Kaul, like Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, has advocated for universal background checks and a red-flag law that would allow family members and police to ask judges to seize guns from people who might pose a threat. Todd Richmond, ajc, 26 Aug. 2022 Mills, on the other hand, opposes gun control efforts, including red-flag laws that allow law enforcement to temporarily seize firearms from people suspected of being dangerous. Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English saisen, from Anglo-French seisir, from Medieval Latin sacire, of Germanic origin; perhaps akin to Old High German sezzen to set — more at set
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing seize
Kids Definition
seize
verb
ˈsēz
seized; seizing
1
: to take possession of by or as if by force
Invaders seized the castle.
He seized the lead.
2
: to take hold of suddenly or with force
… Balin was just in time to seize the boat before it floated off … J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit3
: to take or use eagerly or quickly
She seized the opportunity to go.
Legal Definition
seize
transitive verb
seized; seizing
1
or seise : to put in possession of property or vest with the right of possession or succession
stand seized of land
2
: to take possession or custody of (property) especially by lawful authority
seize drugs as evidence
the entry of a preliminary order of forfeiture authorizes the Attorney General…to seize the specific property subject to forfeiture Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 32.2(b)(3)
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 32.2(b)(3)can seize the goods subject to his security interest and…keep them in satisfaction of the debt J. J. White and R. S. Summers
compare foreclose, repossess J. J. White and R. S. Summers3
: to detain (a person) in such circumstances as would lead a reasonable person to believe that he or she was not free to leave
determined that the defendant was seized when surrounded by police officers
seize
verb
1
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of a critic with a sharp intellect that is able to seize the most subtle nuances of a work of art Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- understand
- recognize
- know
- grasp
- see
- decipher
- comprehend
- get
- appreciate
- apprehend
- realize
- discern
- assimilate
- dig
- catch
- conceive
- make
- perceive
- sense
- register
- make out
- behold
- intuit
- decode
- absorb
- savvy
- twig
- grok
- pick up on
- cognize
- catch on (to)
- compass
- tumble (to)
- penetrate
- digest
- fathom
- take in
- cotton (to or on to)
- pierce
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miss
- misunderstand
- misconstrue
- misinterpret
- misread
- mistake
- misapprehend
- misconceive
- misperceive
2
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law seized the leaders of one of the city's major drug rings Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrest
- grab
- apprehend
- detain
- restrain
- capture
- snatch
- nab
- commit
- catch
- pinch
- nail
- jail
- nick
- imprison
- bust
- pull in
- run in
- pick up
- confine
- trap
- hold
- land
- collar
- get
- grapple
- hook
- bind
- snare
- snap (up)
- incarcerate
- handcuff
- shackle
- bag
- lock (up)
- fetter
- intern
- enchain
- remand
- immure
- trammel
- manacle
- rearrest
- jug
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- liberate
- discharge
- release
- loosen
- loose
- emancipate
- free
- spring
- unbind
- unchain
3
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly seized the escaping balloon just before it got out of reach Synonyms & Similar Words
- grab
- catch
- snatch
- capture
- land
- get
- nab
- snag
- trap
- net
- hook
- snare
- corral
- grapple
- bag
- collar
- nail
- rap
- hold
- glom
- nobble
- grasp
- cop
- arrest
- detain
- apprehend
- take hold (of)
- clutch
- snap (up)
- secure
- kidnap
- grip
- rope
- glove
- bay
- corner
- wrest
- fist
- rend
- abduct
- ensnare
- lasso
- halter
- entrap
- clasp
- enmesh
- entangle
- mesh
- fasten (on)
- latch (on or onto)
- immesh
- spirit (away or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miss
- liberate
- release
- discharge
- drop
- free
- loosen
- unhand
4
as in to confiscate
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right Richard III seized the English throne from his brother Edward in 1483 Synonyms & Similar Words
- confiscate
- grab
- steal
- usurp
- occupy
- convert
- invade
- snatch
- claim
- commandeer
- preempt
- appropriate
- arrogate
- expropriate
- pirate
- annex
- assume
- loot
- take over
- repossess
- press
- attach
- grasp
- impound
- despoil
- encroach
- pillage
- wrest
- embezzle
- trespass
- wrench
- infringe
- preoccupy
- collar
- misuse
- sequester
- misapply
- misappropriate
- peculate
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of seize are clutch, grab, grasp, snatch, and take. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.
seized the suspect
While the synonyms clutch and seize are close in meaning, clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.
clutching her purse
Grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.
grabbed roughly by the arm
The words grasp and seize are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.
grasp the handle and pull
Snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.
snatched a doughnut and ran
The words take and seize can be used in similar contexts, but take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.
take some salad from the bowl