ransom
the redemption of a prisoner or kidnapped person, of captured goods, etc., for a price.
the sum or price paid or demanded.
a means of deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin, especially the payment of a redemptive fine.
to redeem from captivity, bondage, detention, etc., by paying a demanded price.
to release or restore on receipt of a ransom.
to deliver or redeem from punishment for sin.
Origin of ransom
1synonym study For ransom
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)
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
The Magic didn’t exactly net a king’s ransom when they traded away four veterans — Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier and Al-Farouq Aminu — in three deals Thursday, but their sell-off was a long time coming.
The NBA’s trade deadline has come and gone. Who won and who lost? | Ben Golliver | March 26, 2021 | Washington PostSome do it for fun, while others seek to hijack systems, blackmail targets or win a lucrative ransom.
Massive camera hack exposes the growing reach and intimacy of American surveillance | Drew Harwell | March 10, 2021 | Washington PostA better analogy for today’s algorithmically driven platform would be one of those ransom notes from the movies, where the kidnapper cuts out magazine letters to spell words.
Disinformation Is Among the Greatest Threats to Our Democracy. Here Are Three Key Ways to Fight It | Daniel J. Rogers | March 5, 2021 | TimeA Gulf State had promised to pay a huge ransom—Padnos says he was told 11 million Euros—in exchange for the American, and Abu Maria planned to be there.
Islamist Terrorism Is Not Done With Us, Warns Former al Qaeda Hostage Theo Padnos | Karl Vick | February 25, 2021 | TimeThe leaguewide quarterback movement began last month when the Detroit Lions agreed to trade Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for fellow quarterback Jared Goff and a king’s ransom of draft choices.
Eagles agree to trade quarterback Carson Wentz to the Colts for a pair of draft picks | Mark Maske | February 18, 2021 | Washington Post
“I noticed something,” I say to Marvin, feeling a little like ransom Stoddard, attorney at law.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAt the same time, we should expect a rise in kidnapping for ransom.
To Kill the ISIS Monster You Gotta Do More Than Cut Off Its Money | Charlie Winter | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFBI spokesman Paul Bresson said that the bureau fully complies with U.S. policy as it relates to ransom payments.
A 26-Year-Old Woman Is ISIS’s Last American Hostage | Shane Harris | November 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEuropean governments, for their part, have long agreed to pay groups like ISIS ransom money.
Foley Family to White House: You Saved Bergdahl. Why Not Our Son? | Eli Lake | October 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhere do you think the ransom money for Western hostages is going?
Turkey’s Attitude Toward ISIS? Sympathy for the Devil | Jamie Dettmer | October 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor ten years now had these been riding and raiding around the walls, pillaging and holding to ransom.
The Merrie Tales Of Jacques Tournebroche | Anatole FranceThe second were ruffians who forced their victims to pay ransom by holding their feet in fires.
The Abbot Guilbert offers three hundred silver sous for his ransom.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne SueHe quickly pointed out Bezenecq the Rich as a townsman from whom it would be easy to extract a big ransom.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne SueHave I not offered you three hundred gold sous for my ransom, Count of Plouernel?
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne Sue
British Dictionary definitions for ransom (1 of 2)
/ (ˈrænsəm) /
the release of captured prisoners, property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price
the price demanded or stipulated for such a release
rescue or redemption of any kind
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
a king's ransom a very large amount of money or valuables
to pay a stipulated price and so obtain the release of (prisoners, property, etc)
to set free (prisoners, property, etc) upon receiving the payment demanded
to redeem; rescue: Christ ransomed men from sin
Origin of ransom
1Derived forms of ransom
- ransomer, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Ransom (2 of 2)
/ (ˈrænsəm) /
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
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.
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