seize on

Idioms  

1. Also, seize upon.

2. Grab or take hold of suddenly, as in He seized on the bell rope and started to pull vigorously , or She seized upon every opportunity to present her side of the story . [Late 1600s]

3. Resort to some action, especially out of dire necessity, as in He seized upon any excuse, no matter how farfetched .

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Example Sentences

There’s a branding aspect in a lot of festivals for a movie that’s a hot movie that the press has decided to seize on.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

The project hopes to "seize on the passion of all the astronomers over the last 350 years, and interpret that passion through science," Rodgers told the BBC.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Yeah, they were very close for a while, but Epstein’s defining human trait was an ability to seize on his connections and leverage them for as much currency as he could.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

Even before adding Echo Lake to its portfolio of 25 other acquisitions, Cal-Maine was starting to seize on the public’s increasing appetite for “specialty eggs.”

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

With nothing left but a soon-to-wither manioc crop, it could hardly be a strategic advantage for the combatants to seize on.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer