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

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

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

Over the course of the war, US forces have expended vast quantities of both long-range ground attack systems and the air and missile defences used to intercept incoming Iranian attacks.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

Different types of sensors—radar, radio frequency, optical and acoustic detection—as well as electronic jamming measures and intercept systems are needed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Authorities would have powers to restrict basic freedoms such as freedom of movement and assembly and, most controversially of all, intercept communications in specific geographic areas.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

Kyiv is struggling to adapt to continuous attacks using faster drones that are harder to intercept.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

"We were able to correct the intercept range with Hermes's attitude thrusters. But there's a problem with the intercept velocity."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

A top FBI official recently revealed that the bureau does have the authority to make such intercepts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

Israel's army sometimes intercepts drones that cross the border, but also often loses contact with the small, low-flying devices.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026

At the upper tier is the Arrow 3, which intercepts long-range ballistic missiles that leave the Earth’s atmosphere and is among the best antimissile munitions in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2026

Collisions among the asteroids happen frequently, and occasionally a piece is chipped off and accidentally intercepts the Earth, falling to the ground as a meteorite.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

The Aggies led 41-20 later in the fourth when Julio Humphrey intercepted a pass by Boley and returned it 45 yards for another score.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

It comes after the charity helped carry around 120 migrants intercepted off the Isle of Wight, to Eastney, in Langstone Harbour, where roads were blocked by protesters.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Maye once again tried to push the ball downfield on the next possession and was intercepted for the second time, giving Seattle the ball on New England’s side of the field.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

He was intercepted in luggage at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, bound for India, where demand for exotic animals as pets has been growing.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

It almost looked like the arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two, but my eyes must’ve been playing tricks on me.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

Geran drones began as versions of relatively slow, propeller-driven Iranian Shahed drones, which Ukraine has become adept at intercepting after heavy investment in equipment and training to counter the threat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

With French officers claiming they are now intercepting two-thirds of small boats before they can reach the coast, that means fewer crossing opportunities.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Ukraine’s air force hasn’t yet released data showing how many jet-powered drones it is intercepting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

It credits French authorities with intercepting 185 potential crossings involving 4,300 migrants this summer over four separate weeks, as well as stopping 12 boats at sea using new techniques.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Anyone intercepting the text would assume it had something to do with breakfast, but it would actually be a reference to the judge from family court.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

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