seize

[ seez ]

/ siz /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: seize / seized / seizing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), seized, seiz·ing.

to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp: to seize a weapon.

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.

Also seise .Law. 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.

to take advantage of promptly: to seize an opportunity.

Nautical. to bind or fasten together with a seizing.

verb (used without object), seized, seiz·ing.

to grab or take hold suddenly or forcibly (usually followed by on or upon): to seize on a rope.

to resort to a method, plan, etc., in desperation (usually followed by on or upon): 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 by up): 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 by up): If the butter is too cold, the frosting will seize.

OTHER WORDS FOR seize

1 clutch, grab.

7 arrest, apprehend.

See synonyms for seize on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR seize

7 release.

See antonyms for seize on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

FIRE UP YOUR VOCAB FOR A "RED" SYNONYMS QUIZ

No fire engine reds here, only a fierce collection of vibrant words for the color red to test yourself on.

Question 1 of 7

What does "amaranth" mean?

a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

a mythical creature

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

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

synonym study for seize

7. See catch.

OTHER WORDS FROM seize

seiz·a·ble, adjectiveseiz·er; Law. sei·zor

[see-zer, -zawr], /ˈsi zər, -zɔr/, nounre·seize, verb (used with object), re·seized, re·seiz·ing.un·seiz·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby seize

seismonasty, seismoscope, seitan, SEIU, sei whale, seize, seized, seize on, seize up, seizing, seizure

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use seize in a sentence

In fact, the opposite can be the case — which means that proponents of a financial transactions tax are seizing on the GameStop saga.
How the government might react to GameStop|Felix Salmon|February 5, 2021|Axios
Policymakers may be able to seize this moment as an opportunity to push new legislation and invest in developing EV technology.
GM wants its cars to be fully electric by 2035. Here’s what that could mean for auto emissions.|Ula Chrobak|February 4, 2021|Popular-Science
With extremist groups already looking to seize the moment, Q believers are facing at least three major paths.
What Comes Next For QAnon Followers|Kaleigh Rogers|January 29, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
A new generation of change-makers has seized upon the idea in ways unimaginable in 1987.
Can Astronaut Thinking Heal America at Last?|Leslie dela Vega|January 28, 2021|Ozy

After multiple weeks of quarantining and frequent testing, Chandler seized that opportunity with a game-high 26 points in Monday’s win.
In search of top competition, high school basketball powerhouses are still crisscrossing the country|Kyle Melnick|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
The risk to his life was great enough that he had to flee Munich when Hitler attempted to seize power in November 1923.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Took on Hitler|John Henry Crosby|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They tried to seize funds that were raised for his legal defense.
Sentencing Looms for Barrett Brown, Advocate for “Anonymous”|Kevin M. Gallagher|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Patriot Act allows the Department of Justice to seize foreign bank assets in U.S. accounts.
Special Forces’ $77M ‘Hustler’ Hits Back|Kevin Maurer|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Whether they will seize the moment, or play the same old politics as usual, remains to be seen.
How a GOP Senate Can Help the Poor|Veronique de Rugy|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Imagine being an Iraq vet who lost friends securing a place such as Fallujah only to see ISIS now seize it.
It’s Time for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to Get a Parade of Their Own|Michael Daly|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The blind Samson of labor will seize upon the pillars of society and bring them down in a common destruction.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Relations became so strained that Bonaparte was soon glad to seize on any excuse to dismiss Lannes from his post.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Vienna capitulated and the Marshals pressed on to seize the bridge before the city.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
On the afternoon of July 5th it fell to the lot of Macdonald to attempt to seize the plateau which formed the Austrian centre.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
So she sprang away from me, laughing, and quick as I reached out to seize her, she avoided me.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd

British Dictionary definitions for seize

seize

/ (siːz) /

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr foll by on ) to take hold of quickly; grabshe seized her hat and ran for the bus

(sometimes foll by on or upon) to grasp mentally, esp rapidlyshe immediately seized his idea

to take mental possession ofalarm seized the crowd

to take possession of rapidly and forciblythe thief seized the woman's purse

to take legal possession of; take into custody

to take by force or capturethe army seized the undefended town

to take immediate advantage ofto seize an opportunity

nautical to bind (two ropes together or a piece of gear to a rope)See also serve (def. 19)

(intr often foll by up) (of mechanical parts) to become jammed, esp because of excessive heat

(passive usually foll by of) to be apprised of; conversant with

the usual US spelling of seise

Derived forms of seize

seizable, adjective

Word Origin for seize

C13 saisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre to position, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic satjan to set 1

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

Medical definitions for seize

seize

[ sēz ]

To exhibit symptoms of seizure activity, usually with convulsions.

seize

OTHER WORDS FOR seize

OPPOSITES FOR seize

Origin of seize

synonym study for seize

OTHER WORDS FROM seize

Words nearby seize

Words related to seize

How to use seize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for seize

Derived forms of seize

Word Origin for seize

Medical definitions for seize