to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp: to seize a weapon.
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 seise. 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.
to take advantage of promptly: to seize an opportunity.
Nautical. to bind or fasten together with a seizing.
verb (used without object),seized,seiz·ing.
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.
Origin of seize
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”; see set
SYNONYMS FOR seize
1 clutch, grab.
7 arrest, apprehend.
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ANTONYMS FOR seize
7 release.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR seize ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for seize
7. See catch.
OTHER WORDS FROM seize
seiz·a·ble,adjectiveseiz·er;Law. sei·zor[see-zer, -zawr], /ˈsi zər, -zɔr/, nounre·seize,verb (used with object),re·seized,re·seiz·ing.un·seiz·a·ble,adjective
un·seized,adjective
Words nearby seize
seismonasty, seismoscope, seitan, SEIU, sei whale, seize, seize on, seize up, seizing, seizure, seizure disorder