intercept

American  

[in-ter-sept, in-ter-sept] / ˌɪn tərˈsɛpt, ˈɪn tərˌsɛpt /

verb (used with object)

• intercepts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• intercepted,
  past participle,  past
• intercepting
  present participle

1. 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.

2. to see or overhear (a message, transmission, etc., meant for another).

   We intercepted the enemy's battle plan.

3. to stop or check (passage, travel, etc.).

   to intercept the traitor's escape.

4. Sports. to take possession of (a ball or puck) during an attempted pass by an opposing team.

5. to stop or interrupt the course, progress, or transmission of.

6. to destroy or disperse (enemy aircraft or a missile or missiles) in the air on the way to a target.

7. to stop the natural course of (light, water, etc.).

8. Mathematics. to mark off or include, as between two points or lines.

9. to intersect.

10. Obsolete. to prevent or cut off the operation or effect of.

11. Obsolete. to cut off from access, sight, etc.

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noun

1. an interception.

2. Mathematics.

   1. an intercepted segment of a line.

   2. (in a coordinate system) the distance from the origin to the point at which a curve or line intersects an axis.

intercept British  

verb

1. to stop, deflect, or seize on the way from one place to another; prevent from arriving or proceeding

2. sport to seize or cut off (a pass) on its way from one opponent to another

3. maths to cut off, mark off, or bound (some part of a line, curve, plane, or surface)

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noun

1. maths

   1. a point at which two figures intersect

   2. the distance from the origin to the point at which a line, curve, or surface cuts a coordinate axis

   3. an intercepted segment

2. sport the act of intercepting an opponent's pass

intercept Scientific  

/ ĭn′tər-sĕpt′ /

1. In a Cartesian coordinate system, the coordinate of a point at which a line, curve, or surface intersects a coordinate axis. If a curve intersects the x-axis at (4,0), then 4 is the curve's x-intercept; if the curve intersects the y-axis at (0,2), then 2 is its y-intercept.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interception
  noun
• interceptive
  adjective
• nonintercepting
  adjective
• noninterceptive
  adjective
• unintercepted
  adjective
• unintercepting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• intercepting
  present
• intercepted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• intercept
  simple
• intercepts
  simple
• have intercepted
  perfect
• has intercepted
  perfect
• am intercepting
  progressive
• are intercepting
  progressive
• is intercepting
  progressive
• have been intercepting
  perfect progressive
• has been intercepting
  perfect progressive

Past

• intercepted
  simple
• had intercepted
  perfect
• was intercepting
  progressive
• were intercepting
  progressive
• had been intercepting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will intercept
  simple
• will have intercepted
  perfect
• will be intercepting
  progressive
• will have been intercepting
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intercept intercepts intercepted intercepting

That is a huge difference with the parallel revolution in drone warfare: drones, and systems used to intercept drones, including air-defense drones, are much simpler and cheaper.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

One problem is the lack of clarity at a national level about who is responsible and legally authorized to intercept a drone that poses a security danger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Ukraine's air force said it managed to intercept 55 missiles and 265 drones launched by Moscow.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

Also used was a newer, more sophisticated system known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, which has a longer range and higher intercept altitudes than the older Patriot.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

I kick into gear, rushing to intercept her.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

A top FBI official recently revealed that the bureau does have the authority to make such intercepts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

Israel's army sometimes intercepts drones that cross the border, but also often loses contact with the small, low-flying devices.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

It can listen for and summarize relevant conversations from intercepts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026

Those intercepts are a success -- they prevented the missiles from striking their targets -- but they also come at the cost of pricey, high-tech interceptors that are in short supply.

From Barron's ● Mar. 3, 2026

At the start, Elizebeth had too few Enigma intercepts to draw any clear conclusions.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Joshua Jones ran for 124 yards and one touchdown in 24 carries, De’Andre Kirkpatrick ran for a one-yard touchdown and intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter to keep Crenshaw close.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

After the kickoff, Palisades had one last chance from its own 26-yard line with two seconds left but Kyion Rattler intercepted Robert Holohan’s desperation pass at the Cougars’ 35.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

The Smyrtos was taken to be anchored off Weymouth after Royal Marines Commandos intercepted and boarded it in a first-of-its-kind operation to disrupt the sanctioned tanker in June.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Some 50 people were intercepted on July 12 alone, according to state media.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

Cersei would be displeased to learn that he had intercepted Stalk's letter, but his father had sent him here to rule, not to please Cersei.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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

Only the most advanced air defence, such as the US-made Patriot system, is capable of intercepting them.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

On eight of the last 14 days, Jordan’s military has reported on its website intercepting missiles or drones fired from Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Kuwait's army wrote on X on Saturday that explosions might be heard as a result of "air defence systems intercepting hostile targets".

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

She steps forward, intercepting me in the middle of the lobby.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

Related Words

• ambush
• arrest
• block
• catch
• cut off
• deflect
• hijack
• prevent
• seize
• stop
• take away