Synonyms

seize

American

[seez] / siz /

verb (used with object)

to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp.

to seize a weapon.

Synonyms:

grab, clutch
to grasp mentally; understand clearly and completely.

to seize an idea.
to take possession of by force or at will.

to seize enemy ships.
to take possession or control of as if by suddenly laying hold.

Panic seized the crowd.
to take possession of by legal authority; confiscate.

to seize smuggled goods.
Law. Also to put (someone) in seizin or legal possession of property (usually used in passive constructions).

She was seized of vast estates.
to capture; take into custody.

Synonyms:

apprehend, arrest

Antonyms:

release
to take advantage of promptly.

to seize an opportunity.
Nautical. to bind or fasten together with a seizing.

verb (used without object)

to grab or take hold suddenly or forcibly (usually followed by on orupon ).

to seize on a rope.
to resort to a method, plan, etc., in desperation (usually followed by on orupon ).

He must seize on a solution, however risky.
to have moving parts bind and stop moving as a result of excessive pressure, temperature, or friction (usually followed byup ).

The engine seized up from cold.
to have a seizure, as of epilepsy.

He seized for about five minutes and then lost consciousness.
(of melted chocolate) to become grainy and clumpy from overheating or from contact with a small amount of moisture (often followed byup ).

If the butter is too cold, the frosting will seize.

seize British

/ siːz /

verb

to take hold of quickly; grab

she seized her hat and ran for the bus
to grasp mentally, esp rapidly

she immediately seized his idea
to take mental possession of

alarm seized the crowd
to take possession of rapidly and forcibly

the thief seized the woman's purse
to take legal possession of; take into custody
to take by force or capture

the army seized the undefended town
to take immediate advantage of

to seize an opportunity
nautical to bind (two ropes together or a piece of gear to a rope) See also serve
(of mechanical parts) to become jammed, esp because of excessive heat
to be apprised of; conversant with
the usual US spelling of seise

"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

Synonym Usage

See catch.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of seize

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English saisen, seisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre “to place” (in phrase sacīre ad propriētam “to take as one's own, lay claim to”), from Frankish, perhaps akin to Gothic satjan “to set, put, place”; see set

Explanation

Infomercial salesmen constantly tell you to seize the opportunity to buy their product while you still can. Supplies are limited! After all, everyone will want that solar-powered puppy petter, so you'd better grab the opportunity and buy two! You can seize all kinds of things. Seize the day if you are taking advantage of the present circumstances and enjoying life to the fullest. Seize the castle, if you are a feudal lord fighting with your neighbor. Seize the inspiration if you want to tell a moving story. Seize authority if you are overthrowing a small country. Avoid, at all costs, being seized if you are under zombie attack.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing seize

"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury

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Beowulf vocabulary

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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:

seize seizes seized seizing

When equipment is bought on credit, it usually doubles as collateral, or the asset a lender can seize if the loan defaults.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

U.S. manufacturing is booming thanks to AI data centers, and industrial companies such as Caterpillar, Eaton and Ford Motor are pivoting their business to seize the moment, The Wall Street Journal reports.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

The lack of the main UK parties in the by-election gave dozens of fringe candidates including Binface a chance to seize the spotlight.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

"I think somebody has to just seize the thing and get it sorted," Dame Vera said.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The others pressed on, but he was ever hindmost, pursued by a groping horror that seemed always just about to seize him; and a rumour came after him like the shadow-sound of many feet.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Alphabet’s driverless car service seizes the World Cup stage to try to humanize its technology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

Woods advised he has a limp and his ankle seizes while walking.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2026

Chevron maintained a now-coveted presence in Venezuela as Exxon and ConocoPhillips exited the country during waves of expropriations and asset seizes that started in the 2000s under then-President Hugo Chávez and continued under Maduro.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 7, 2026

"I've been there myself when your back seizes up, and it's not a nice place to be."

From Barron's ● Nov. 23, 2025

My mind seizes on her words like a prisoner grasping for pardon.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Many machines being seized by police are electric motorcycles.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Brent crude futures Monday climbed 2.7%, to $90.87 a barrel, after Iranian media said an oil tanker had been seized in the Strait of Hormuz.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Authorities have seized Walter’s cellphone and laptop, according to Bloomberg.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Jack had reached for a vol-au-vent, swallowed it whole in one bite, rinsed it down with a glass of champagne and seized center stage all in one action.

From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2026

The children each nimbly seized a burning candle from one of the lit candelabras and used it to light all the rest, revealing two entirely unexpected sights.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

The main suspect was then arrested, with police seizing a firearm, judicial sash and identity cards bearing his fake judicial title, the paper said.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Last year it handled 35% of volume in corporate bonds, down from 61% in 2020, with Tradeweb and an upstart rival, Trumid, seizing much of its lost market share, figures from Crisil Coalition Greenwich show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Many developed a deep affection for the country and its artistic innovations, while seizing on business opportunities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Constitutional safeguards normally require a court order prior to searches or seizures, and seizing a child from their parent is one of the most extreme steps the government can take.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

Nobody had known that two hundred and sixty redcoats were getting into boats, slipping off up the Mystic, seizing Yankee gunpowder, and rowing it back to Castle Island for themselves.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023