seized

American  

[seezd] / sizd /

adjective

1. taken hold, possession, or control of, as by force or legal authority; confiscated, captured, or appropriated.

   Police say the seized property includes knives, computer equipment, a balaclava, and military clothing.

   Settlers were observed planting olive trees on illegally seized land.

2. (of an opportunity) taken advantage of promptly.

   Everything that Mom and I had accomplished was rooted firmly in the soil of hard work and seized opportunities.

3. (of moving parts) locked or jammed, as from excessive friction (often followed byup ).

   I gladly pay top dollar for lubricants and fluids, because I know it's far more expensive to have to rebuild a seized engine!

4. having ceased to function; having come to a halt (often followed byup ).

   Businesses need to access credit lines to function, but now the credit market is totally seized up.

5. fully understood; mentally grasped.

   People who need cognitive closure will absorb a statement early in the process of acquiring knowledge, "freeze" on that seized idea, and resist further information.

6. (of melted chocolate) grainy and clumpy from overheating or from contact with a small amount of moisture.

   To reverse the reaction, add more liquid, but just enough to dissolve most of the sugar and cocoa particles in the seized chocolate clumps.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of seize.

Other Word Forms

• unseized adjective

Etymology

Origin of seized

seize ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The claim argues that Osborn’s initial finding “meant he would not take the required steps to render the device safe,” and alleges one of detectives stored the seized items overnight in their truck or home.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Three months after state vets seized and killed hundreds of his sheep to stamp out an ongoing pox pandemic, Kostas Theofilou fights back tears as he gazes at his empty stable.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general, the agency’s internal watchdog, recently seized records and a computer from the office of Kara Voorhies, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

But prosecutors told the judge that both could be true: Jeffries has already had $11m in cash seized by the US government and if found guilty, may be ordered to compensate victims.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Panic seized Akira’s throat, making it even harder to breathe.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• captured