kidnap

[ kid-nap ]

verb (used with object)

, kid·napped or kid·naped, kid·nap·ping or kid·nap·ing.

1. to steal, carry off, or abduct by force or fraud, especially for use as a hostage or to extract ransom.

   Synonyms: seize

kidnap

/ ˈkɪdnæp /

verb

1. tr to carry off and hold (a person), usually for ransom

Derived Forms

• ˈkidnapper, noun
• ˈkidnapping, noun

Other Words From

• kidnap·pee kidnap·ee noun
• kidnap·per kidnap·er noun
• un·kidnaped adjective
• un·kidnapped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kidnap¹

1675–85; kid ¹ + nap, variant of nab

Word History and Origins

Origin of kidnap¹

C17: kid ¹+ obsolete nap to steal; see nab

Example Sentences

So, it is disequilibrium behavior — as long as everyone pays, there is no need to kidnap anybody.

From Freakonomics

Face recognition, used with careful limitations, could help identify children who’ve been kidnapped or trafficked.

From MIT Technology Review

Cut through zip tiesImagine you’ve been kidnapped and bound with zip ties!

From Popular-Science

Days later, seven-year-old Fátima Aldrighett – kidnapped while waiting for her mother to pick her up from school – was found naked in a plastic bag.

From No Straight News

Concerned she’d been kidnapped, people across Mexico mobilized to find her.

From No Straight News

As long as there are states willing to negotiate payments with groups like ISIS, there will be a financial incentive to kidnap.

From The Daily Beast

This matters for trafficking because it costs a lot to kidnap someone and hold her against her will.

From The Daily Beast

This man was taken from Libya and it is not legal to kidnap people from Libya.

From The Daily Beast

As a result, Bo sent several hundred armed police to surround the U.S. Consulate, attempting to kidnap Wang.

From The Daily Beast

The CIA, he says, could “render” (i.e., kidnap) him at any time, which is highly unlikely but not symptomatic of the paranoid.

From The Daily Beast

Most exquisite Chiffinch, thou art turned micher as well as padder—Canst both rob a man and kidnap him!

From Project Gutenberg

As the sergeant departed he warned Mr. Traill, laughingly, that he meant to kidnap Bobby the very first chance he got.

From Project Gutenberg

Two gentlemen of this city were eminently, but secretly, active in their attempt to kidnap their victim.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Traill fixed an accusing eye on the soldier, remembering suddenly his laughing threat to kidnap Bobby.

From Project Gutenberg

The Federal Judges sought to kidnap the citizens of Boston and to punish all such as opposed man-stealing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• capture
• hijack
• seize
• snatch
• steal