seize

[ seez ]

verb (used with object)

, seized, seiz·ing.

1. to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp:

   to seize a weapon.

   Synonyms: grab, clutch

2. to grasp mentally; understand clearly and completely:

   to seize an idea.

3. to take possession of by force or at will:

   to seize enemy ships.

4. to take possession or control of as if by suddenly laying hold:

   Panic seized the crowd.

5. to take possession of by legal authority; confiscate:

   to seize smuggled goods.

6. Also . Law. to put (someone) in seizin or legal possession of property (usually used in passive constructions):

   She was seized of vast estates.

7. to capture; take into custody.

   Synonyms: apprehend, arrest

   Antonyms: release

8. to take advantage of promptly:

   to seize an opportunity.

9. Nautical. to bind or fasten together with a seizing.

verb (used without object)

, seized, seiz·ing.

1. to grab or take hold suddenly or forcibly (usually followed by on or upon ):

   to seize on a rope.

2. to resort to a method, plan, etc., in desperation (usually followed by on or upon ):

   He must seize on a solution, however risky.

3. to have moving parts bind and stop moving as a result of excessive pressure, temperature, or friction (usually followed by up ):

   The engine seized up from cold.

4. to have a seizure, as of epilepsy:

   He seized for about five minutes and then lost consciousness.

5. (of melted chocolate) to become grainy and clumpy from overheating or from contact with a small amount of moisture (often followed by up ):

   If the butter is too cold, the frosting will seize.

seize

/ siːz /

verb

1. also intrfoll byon to take hold of quickly; grab

   she seized her hat and ran for the bus

2. sometimes foll byon or upon to grasp mentally, esp rapidly

   she immediately seized his idea

3. to take mental possession of

   alarm seized the crowd

4. to take possession of rapidly and forcibly

   the thief seized the woman's purse

5. to take legal possession of; take into custody
6. to take by force or capture

   the army seized the undefended town

7. to take immediate advantage of

   to seize an opportunity

8. nautical to bind (two ropes together or a piece of gear to a rope) See also serve
9. introften foll byup (of mechanical parts) to become jammed, esp because of excessive heat
10. passiveusually foll byof to be apprised of; conversant with
11. the usual US spelling of seise

Derived Forms

• ˈseizable, adjective

Other Words From

• seiz·a·ble adjective
• seiz·er Law. sei·zor [see, -zer, -zawr], noun
• re·seize verb (used with object) reseized reseizing
• un·seiz·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of seize¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English saisen, seisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre “to place” (in phrase sacīre ad propriētam “to take as one's own, lay claim to”), from Frankish, perhaps akin to Gothic satjan “to set, put, place”; set

Word History and Origins

Origin of seize¹

C13 saisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre to position, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic satjan to set ¹

Synonym Study

See catch.

Example Sentences

In his first term as president, he demanded a crackdown on leaks that eventually entailed secretly seizing the private communications of reporters, including some from The New York Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

From New York Times

Ukraine marked 1,000 days since Russia's full-scale invasion on Tuesday with Russian forces waging relentless attacks in a bid to seize key hubs in the east of Ukraine.

From BBC

The 10-year-old’s letters and notebook were seized by police after her body was found with dozens of injuries at the family’s home in Woking, Surrey, last year.

From BBC

Its analysis found Russian forces seized six times more territory in 2024 than it did in the previous year.

From BBC

Military and police personnel had stormed Ghana's government buildings, seizing power from Nkrumah, who was away on a foreign trip.

From BBC

Related Words

• ambush
• annex
• apprehend
• arrest
• capture
• catch
• commandeer
• confiscate
• force
• grab
• hijack
• impound
• kidnap
• occupy
• overrun
• take
• take over