hijack

American  

[hahy-jak] / ˈhaɪˌdʒæk /

Or highjack

verb (used with object)

1. to steal (cargo) from a truck or other vehicle after forcing it to stop.

   to hijack a load of whiskey.

2. to rob (a vehicle) after forcing it to stop.

   They hijacked the truck before it entered the city.

3. to seize (a vehicle) by force or threat of force.

4. to skyjack.

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verb (used without object)

1. to engage in such stealing or seizing.

noun

1. an act or instance of hijacking.

hijack British  

/ ˈhaɪˌdʒæk /

verb

1. (tr) to seize, divert, or appropriate (a vehicle or the goods it carries) while in transit

   to hijack an aircraft

2. to rob (a person or vehicle) by force

   to hijack a traveller

3. (esp in the US during Prohibition) to rob (a bootlegger or smuggler) of his illicit goods or to steal (illicit goods) in transit

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noun

1. the act or an instance of hijacking

Other Word Forms

• antihijack adjective
• hijacker noun

Etymology

Origin of hijack

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; back formation from hijacker

Example Sentences

For most of human history, viruses have been our unseen enemies—particles of RNA and DNA that hijack our cells.

From The Wall Street Journal

But after Homeland Security’s hijacking of Capra’s message, I made time to watch the entire film, which I’ve seen at least 10 times, before its customary airing on NBC.

From Los Angeles Times

Bad actors are hijacking dormant LinkedIn accounts using leaked credentials to gain verification.

From BBC

In fact, the story starts with a reference to the 1999 hijacking of an Indian passenger plane.

From BBC

"A small number of countries basically just hijacked the process, to be quite honest," Prof Sir Robert Watson told BBC News.

From BBC

Related Words

• carjack
• commandeer
• kidnap
• steal