seize

[ seez ]

/ siz /

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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

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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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use seize in a sentence

One matter that complicated the investigation, he said, was that prosecutors needed to seize the lawmaker’s phone to obtain any messages he had exchanged with the woman.
Alaska’s “Him Too” Moment: When Politicians and Allies Come With Accusations of Their Own|by Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News and Greg Kim, KYUK|October 23, 2020|ProPublica
Let’s seize this opportunity to make it the great neighborhood the community deserves.
Raise Expectations for the Midway District by Raising the Height Limit|Jack Carpenter|October 5, 2020|Voice of San Diego
In most states, plaintiffs can seize up to a quarter of a worker’s take-home pay or clean out their bank account.
Debt Collectors Have Made a Fortune This Year. Now They’re Coming for More.|by Paul Kiel and Jeff Ernsthausen|October 5, 2020|ProPublica
Some, however, fear that the president will send federal agencies to seize ballots.
Election Violence In November? Here’s What The Research Says|LGBTQ-Editor|October 2, 2020|No Straight News

Critics immediately seized on the news, threatening legal challenges and arguing the change does not prevent fraud but hurts populous cities that are Democratic strongholds.
Texas governor’s limit on drop-off sites for mail-in ballots criticized as voter suppression|Meryl Kornfield, Felicia Sonmez|October 2, 2020|Washington Post
He was a typical seizer and afraid of nothing that wore hair.
Hunting in Many Lands|Various
If the seized property be lost, the seizer shall compensate for the loss in kind or in value.
Studies in Moro History, Law, and Religion|Najeeb M. Saleeby
The end of nearly every good seizer is being killed by a boar.
The Rifle and The Hound in Ceylon|Samuel White Baker
A veteran seizer is generally seamed with innumerable scars.
The Rifle and The Hound in Ceylon|Samuel White Baker
Bob's first care was to look after Seizer, who was badly wounded, but whose bones were whole.
The Graysons|Edward Eggleston

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

seize

OTHER WORDS FOR seize

OPPOSITES FOR seize

Origin of seize

synonym study for seize

OTHER WORDS FROM 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