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. See serve
   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. See seise
    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 fact, the opposite can be the case — which means that proponents of a financial transactions tax are seizing on the GameStop saga.

From Axios

Policymakers may be able to seize this moment as an opportunity to push new legislation and invest in developing EV technology.

From Popular-Science

With extremist groups already looking to seize the moment, Q believers are facing at least three major paths.

From FiveThirtyEight

A new generation of change-makers has seized upon the idea in ways unimaginable in 1987.

From Ozy

After multiple weeks of quarantining and frequent testing, Chandler seized that opportunity with a game-high 26 points in Monday’s win.

From Washington Post

The risk to his life was great enough that he had to flee Munich when Hitler attempted to seize power in November 1923.

From The Daily Beast

They tried to seize funds that were raised for his legal defense.

From The Daily Beast

The Patriot Act allows the Department of Justice to seize foreign bank assets in U.S. accounts.

From The Daily Beast

Whether they will seize the moment, or play the same old politics as usual, remains to be seen.

From The Daily Beast

Imagine being an Iraq vet who lost friends securing a place such as Fallujah only to see ISIS now seize it.

From The Daily Beast

The blind Samson of labor will seize upon the pillars of society and bring them down in a common destruction.

From Project Gutenberg

Relations became so strained that Bonaparte was soon glad to seize on any excuse to dismiss Lannes from his post.

From Project Gutenberg

Vienna capitulated and the Marshals pressed on to seize the bridge before the city.

From Project Gutenberg

On the afternoon of July 5th it fell to the lot of Macdonald to attempt to seize the plateau which formed the Austrian centre.

From Project Gutenberg

So she sprang away from me, laughing, and quick as I reached out to seize her, she avoided me.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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