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

The Russian army has new jet-powered unmanned aircraft that are much faster and more difficult to intercept.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Different types of sensors—radar, radio frequency, optical and acoustic detection—as well as electronic jamming measures and intercept systems are needed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has held an emergency meeting with ministers and commanders to work out how to produce new high-speed missiles that can intercept the faster Russian drones.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

For much of the war, Ukraine was able to intercept even Russia’s most advanced long-range missiles, using U.S.-designed Patriot air defense systems.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

"He'll get to orbit," Johanssen said, "but the intercept course may be compromised."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

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

SkyFall’s P1-Sun intercepts other drones, like Russia’s versions of Iran’s Shahed drones.

From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026

For more than two decades, Unit 8200, a covert Israeli intelligence unit that specializes in phone intercepts and cyber operations, tracked Khamenei and Iran’s top leadership, mapping their daily routines and habits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026

Simon intercepts me on my way to the buses.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

He was intercepted in luggage at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, bound for India, where demand for exotic animals as pets has been growing.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

The department had initially intercepted and inspected the shipment at the port based on a tip received by its counterfeit and piracy enforcement team, the department said in the release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Taiwan customs officials intercepted 56 servers, which were intended for shipment to Japan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

In Akwa Ibom state, operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas last Friday, which was heading to Cameroon, and arrested three people on board.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

He slipped through a side door and wandered through the hospital for about fifteen minutes until a nurse intercepted him.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

On Friday last, the military also destroyed a boat after intercepting and evacuating the crew.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

Current missions include intercepting Iranian missiles, providing cover for commercial ships in the strait and blockading Iranian ports and coastal areas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 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

After intercepting an illegal shipment of pink-breasted cockatoos from Australia, they needed to find the birds a new home.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

Anyone intercepting the text would assume it had something to do with breakfast, but it would actually be a reference to the judge from family court.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

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