intercept
Americanverb (used with object)
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intercepts,
present (3rd person singular)
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intercepted,
past participle, past
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intercepting
present participle
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to take, seize, or halt (someone or something on the way from one place to another); cut off from an intended destination.
to intercept a messenger.
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to see or overhear (a message, transmission, etc., meant for another).
We intercepted the enemy's battle plan.
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to stop or check (passage, travel, etc.).
to intercept the traitor's escape.
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Sports. to take possession of (a ball or puck) during an attempted pass by an opposing team.
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to stop or interrupt the course, progress, or transmission of.
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to destroy or disperse (enemy aircraft or a missile or missiles) in the air on the way to a target.
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to stop the natural course of (light, water, etc.).
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Mathematics. to mark off or include, as between two points or lines.
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to intersect.
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Obsolete. to prevent or cut off the operation or effect of.
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Obsolete. to cut off from access, sight, etc.
noun
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an interception.
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Mathematics.
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an intercepted segment of a line.
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(in a coordinate system) the distance from the origin to the point at which a curve or line intersects an axis.
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verb
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to stop, deflect, or seize on the way from one place to another; prevent from arriving or proceeding
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sport to seize or cut off (a pass) on its way from one opponent to another
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maths to cut off, mark off, or bound (some part of a line, curve, plane, or surface)
noun
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maths
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a point at which two figures intersect
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the distance from the origin to the point at which a line, curve, or surface cuts a coordinate axis
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an intercepted segment
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sport the act of intercepting an opponent's pass
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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interceptionnoun
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interceptiveadjective
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noninterceptingadjective
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noninterceptiveadjective
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uninterceptedadjective
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uninterceptingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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interceptsimple
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interceptssimple
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have interceptedperfect
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has interceptedperfect
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am interceptingprogressive
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are interceptingprogressive
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is interceptingprogressive
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have been interceptingperfect progressive
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has been interceptingperfect progressive
Past
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interceptedsimple
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had interceptedperfect
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was interceptingprogressive
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were interceptingprogressive
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had been interceptingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of intercept
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin interceptus, past participle of intercipere “to intercept,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + -cep- (combining form of cap-, stem of capere “to take”) + -tus past participle suffix; see inter-; cf. incipient
Explanation
When you intercept a pass in football, you grab the ball that your opponent had thrown to a member of his own team. To intercept is to stop something from reaching its intended destination. If a national intelligence agency intercepts a telephone call being sent from one terrorist cell to another, they stop the message and also learn a bit about what's going on in the terrorist world. If you're planning a surprise party for your friend and she arrives a half hour early, you might run to intercept her while everyone rushes to hide.
Vocabulary lists containing intercept
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Russian army has new jet-powered unmanned aircraft that are much faster and more difficult to intercept.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
In many instances it has employed jet-powered drones which are faster and harder to intercept.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Authorities would have powers to restrict basic freedoms such as freedom of movement and assembly and, most controversially of all, intercept communications in specific geographic areas.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
Kyiv is struggling to adapt to continuous attacks using faster drones that are harder to intercept.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Setting the peg game on a table, she hurried to intercept him.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
A top FBI official recently revealed that the bureau does have the authority to make such intercepts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
It now intercepts a vast proportion of drones and missiles – although Russia often fires them in such great numbers they overwhelmed air defences and many do get through.
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
“Today, it intercepts rockets at a range of hundreds of kilometers as well as UAVs,” Kochav said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2026
But Apple Intelligence intercepts user intent before it ever reaches a Meta app.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026
Sunny tries to hand the leaflet back to Baba, but Ma intercepts it.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
But many have been intercepted by U.S. authorities and groups in Yemen opposed to the Houthis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Then in the third quarter, on the Patriots’ first play from scrimmage after falling behind 21-3, Maye had a pass intercepted by Jacksonville’s Jarrian Jones.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
With two seconds left, he had a shot at the endzone from 19 yards, but Hufanga intercepted for a second time to clinch a 30-26 Broncos win.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Earlier Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s coalition fighting in Yemen said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
I intercepted with Riptide, but his strike was so powerful, my blade could only deflect it.
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
With just over a minute left in the game, Rams cornerback Josh Wallace battled with Broncos receiver Pat Bryant before intercepting a Bo Nix pass at the Rams’ seven-yard line.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
In August, the Home Office credited police in France with intercepting 185 potential crossings involving 4,300 migrants this summer over four separate weeks, as well as stopping 12 boats at sea using new techniques.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Ukraine’s air force hasn’t yet released data showing how many jet-powered drones it is intercepting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Previously the French authorities allowed most dinghies to head towards the UK once they had launched, because of the risk of intercepting them in deep water, while loaded with people.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
She steps forward, intercepting me in the middle of the lobby.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
