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

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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

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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

It said that law enforcement officials were working to intercept any additional letters, but “it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

According to Beskrestnov, Ukraine uses Starlink to help intercept drones, although exactly how this works has never been made clear.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer, was arrested by the FBI and charged with using or attempting to use a device "to intercept oral communications".

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Alfozan, who had worked on OpenAI’s product team for more than a year, was charged with using or endeavoring to use a device to intercept oral communications, prosecutors said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

A few fairies broke off from the main group to intercept them.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Deep inside an underground bunker in eastern Ukraine, commanders monitor the battlefield through a live video feed as a Ukrainian drone intercepts a Russian surveillance drone.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

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

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

From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026

It’s been less than a week since the blackmail conversation, but Martin intercepts me on my way back from the lunch line.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

Returning on a German U-boat to County Kerry in April 1916, Casement was intercepted and arrested by British authorities.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

The Saudi-led coalition said Wednesday that it intercepted drones launched toward the kingdom, including one targeting the Eastern Province, a major oil-producing region.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Safety Quentin Lake intercepted a pass for a defense that was without All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie because of a groin injury.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026

The airspace above Moscow was closed for several house, causing flight delays, as 644 drones were intercepted above 26 Russian regions, the defence ministry said.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

‘As for why we intercepted you, I’ll let the Amazons explain. Phoebe, Celyn, Naomi - accompany Reyna inside. I have to see to our defences.’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Earlier on Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported intercepting six drones.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Since the start of the 20th century, when the British Royal Navy experimented with radio jamming and intercepting enemy communications, the vulnerability of radio signals has been exploited in combat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

After the Seahawks picked off Herbert on the first play from scrimmage, the Chargers returned the favor on Seattle’s first play, intercepting a Sam Darnold pass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

"We are still intercepting them and we are bringing them to justice as well," she added.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Thanks in no small part to her decryptions, the Coast Guard was intercepting many more rumrunners, depriving the crime bosses of their profits.

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

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Related Words

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

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