ransom

[ ran-suhm ]
See synonyms for ransom on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the redemption of a prisoner or kidnapped person, of captured goods, etc., for a price.

  2. the sum or price paid or demanded.

  1. a means of deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin, especially the payment of a redemptive fine.

verb (used with object)
  1. to redeem from captivity, bondage, detention, etc., by paying a demanded price.

  2. to release or restore on receipt of a ransom.

  1. to deliver or redeem from punishment for sin.

Origin of ransom

1
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English noun ranso(u)n, rançoun, from Old French rançon, reançon from Late Latin redēmptiōn- (stem of redēmptiō ) redemption; verb derivative of the noun

synonym study For ransom

4. See redeem.

Other words for ransom

Other words from ransom

  • ran·som·er, noun
  • un·ran·somed, adjective

Words Nearby ransom

Other definitions for Ransom (2 of 2)

Ransom
[ ran-suhm ]

noun
  1. John Crowe [kroh], /kroʊ/, 1888–1974, U.S. poet, critic, and teacher.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ransom in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ransom (1 of 2)

ransom

/ (ˈrænsəm) /


noun
  1. the release of captured prisoners, property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price

  2. the price demanded or stipulated for such a release

  1. rescue or redemption of any kind

  2. hold to ransom

    • to keep (prisoners, property, etc) in confinement until payment for their release is made or received

    • to attempt to force (a person or persons) to comply with one's demands

  3. a king's ransom a very large amount of money or valuables

verb(tr)
  1. to pay a stipulated price and so obtain the release of (prisoners, property, etc)

  2. to set free (prisoners, property, etc) upon receiving the payment demanded

  1. to redeem; rescue: Christ ransomed men from sin

Origin of ransom

1
C14: from Old French ransoun, from Latin redemptiō a buying back, redemption

Derived forms of ransom

  • ransomer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Ransom (2 of 2)

Ransom

/ (ˈrænsəm) /


noun
  1. John Crowe . 1888–1974, US poet and critic

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with ransom

ransom

see king's ransom.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.