hijack

hijack Definition

☆ hi·jack (hī′jak′)

transitive verb

to steal (goods in transit, a truck and its contents, etc.) by force
to steal such goods from (a person) by force
to cheat, swindle, etc. by or as by the use of force
to seize control forcibly of (an aircraft, bus, ship, etc.), esp. in order to go to a nonscheduled destination

Etymology: < hobo slang for robbing sleeping men < high + jack: origin obscure

hijack Related Forms

hi′·jack′er noun

hijack Synonyms

highjack, skyjack, commandeer, privateer, capture; see seize 2.

hijack Law Definition

To take over control of a vehicle or airplane by use of the threat of force.

hijack Usage Examples

Preposition: of

plane: Is the hijacking of planes a legitimate means of gaining permanent status in the UK?
aircraft: This is a special article on a new technology which may help to counter the hijacking of aircraft.

Object

airliner: One was the arrival in Baghdad of a hijacked Saudi airliner in October.
plane: To hijack planes they were taught to use small knives.
airplane: Let's look at how we work to keep dangerous people from hijacking airplanes.
airplane: The only reason, it is clear, why no one hijacks aeroplanes out of Heathrow is that no one particularly wants to.
aircraft: A fourth hijacked aircraft crashed in Pennsylvania, killing all on board.
thread: Perhaps I'm just being selfish - I love debate and I hate seeing interesting threads hijacked by personal politics.

Subject

interference: Charlotte Jones's new play follows a Halloween party which is hijacked by interference from the past.
terrorist: An Air France Airbus carrying 239 people was hijacked by four terrorists.
interest: The Nazi Holocaust has been hijacked by special interests; the memory of those who died is being exploited for wicked ends.

Modifying Another Word

electronically: Electronically Hijacking the WTC Attack Aircraft Joe Vialls examines what REALLY caused the 9/11 aircraft to fly into the World Trade Center More.. .
effectively: Blair and Sainsbury had effectively hijacked the whole planning process and would issue a ' decree ' at a date of their choosing.
then: Irving then hijacked the story with the " revelation " of the Eichmann diaries.
just: Moreover, how can we ensure that this kind of opportunity isn't just hijacked by local government to further their own agenda?

Preposition: by

interference: Charlotte Jones's new play follows a Halloween party which is hijacked by interference from the past.
terrorist: An Air France Airbus carrying 239 people was hijacked by four terrorists.
user: Google has fixed security flaws in several of its services after research found they were vulnerable to hacking and hijacking by outside users.
group: Their tragic aspects have been hijacked by every dissident group who wishes to prove the injustices inherent in the past government of the Highlands.
interest: The Nazi Holocaust has been hijacked by special interests; the memory of those who died is being exploited for wicked ends.

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