seize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
-
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.
- 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.
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
Related Words
See catch.
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing seize
"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The People Could Fly," Vocabulary from the folk tale
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Beowulf vocabulary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Drones cannot seize positions; they cannot control heights and crossings.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
OpenAI counters that Musk left voluntarily after failing to seize majority control and has since become the company's direct competitor through his own AI venture, xAI.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
After Babb said that he had had no choice but to seize Gamble, Gespass pulled up the officer’s body-camera footage from that day and played it for the audience.
From Slate • May 4, 2026
Various groups accuse each other of wanting to seize the underlying property.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
I feel it under my shirt again, and my insides seize against the memory.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
