intercept
Americanverb (used with object)
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intercepts,
present (3rd person singular)
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intercepted,
past participle, past
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intercepting
present participle
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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.
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to see or overhear (a message, transmission, etc., meant for another).
We intercepted the enemy's battle plan.
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to stop or check (passage, travel, etc.).
to intercept the traitor's escape.
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Sports. to take possession of (a ball or puck) during an attempted pass by an opposing team.
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to stop or interrupt the course, progress, or transmission of.
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to destroy or disperse (enemy aircraft or a missile or missiles) in the air on the way to a target.
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to stop the natural course of (light, water, etc.).
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Mathematics. to mark off or include, as between two points or lines.
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to intersect.
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Obsolete. to prevent or cut off the operation or effect of.
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Obsolete. to cut off from access, sight, etc.
noun
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an interception.
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Mathematics.
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an intercepted segment of a line.
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(in a coordinate system) the distance from the origin to the point at which a curve or line intersects an axis.
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verb
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to stop, deflect, or seize on the way from one place to another; prevent from arriving or proceeding
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sport to seize or cut off (a pass) on its way from one opponent to another
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maths to cut off, mark off, or bound (some part of a line, curve, plane, or surface)
noun
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maths
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a point at which two figures intersect
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the distance from the origin to the point at which a line, curve, or surface cuts a coordinate axis
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an intercepted segment
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sport the act of intercepting an opponent's pass
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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interceptionnoun
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interceptiveadjective
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noninterceptingadjective
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noninterceptiveadjective
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uninterceptedadjective
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uninterceptingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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interceptsimple
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interceptssimple
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have interceptedperfect
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has interceptedperfect
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am interceptingprogressive
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are interceptingprogressive
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is interceptingprogressive
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have been interceptingperfect progressive
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has been interceptingperfect progressive
Past
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interceptedsimple
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had interceptedperfect
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was interceptingprogressive
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were interceptingprogressive
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had been interceptingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing intercept
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It said that law enforcement officials were working to intercept any additional letters, but “it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
The throttling would limit Ukraine’s ability to use its drones to intercept enemy drones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
According to Beskrestnov, Ukraine uses Starlink to help intercept drones, although exactly how this works has never been made clear.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
The shipment went through a freight hub at East Midlands Airport on the way, allowing NCA and Border Force to intercept on Friday.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
"Then we'll have to go to him. Johanssen, time to intercept?"
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Even more promising, the researchers have already used this discovery to develop a molecular decoy that intercepts the toxin before it can damage colon cells.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
Deep inside an underground bunker in eastern Ukraine, commanders monitor the battlefield through a live video feed as a Ukrainian drone intercepts a Russian surveillance drone.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
The site has been expanded to include a sophisticated signals intelligence facility, which has prompted France and the US to consider moving their own bases in Djibouti to avoid Chinese intercepts, according to Kurlantzick.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
A top FBI official recently revealed that the bureau does have the authority to make such intercepts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
Sunny tries to hand the leaflet back to Baba, but Ma intercepts it.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense also reported damages following another intercepted Houthi attack.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said Wednesday that air defenses intercepted a drone targeting a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Another four drones were also intercepted on Wednesday night, according to the Saudi-led coalition that is supporting the Yemeni government in its war against the Houthis.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
Safety Quentin Lake intercepted a pass for a defense that was without All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie because of a groin injury.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026
Mustapha Mond intercepted his anxious glance and the corners of his red lips twitched ironically.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
By intercepting the toxin, the decoys successfully protected the mice from BFT-induced damage.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
The Dolphins’ defense was up to the task against Hamilton’s highly touted quarterback Thaddeus Breaux, intercepting two of his passes and sacking him four times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Other options include new sanctions, expelling Russian diplomats or closing more of its embassies and consulates in Europe, and intercepting and boarding more vessels of Russia’s shadow fleet, officials said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
"We are still intercepting them and we are bringing them to justice as well," she added.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
Thanks in no small part to her decryptions, the Coast Guard was intercepting many more rumrunners, depriving the crime bosses of their profits.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
