seize Hear it!

seize Definition

seize (sēz)

transitive verb seized, seiz′·ing

    1. Historical to put in legal possession of a feudal holding
    2. to put in legal possession of a particular thing; assign ownership to: in the passive voice seized of the lands
    1. to take forcible legal possession of; confiscate to seize contraband
    2. to capture and put into custody; arrest; apprehend to seize a criminal suspect
  3. to take forcibly and quickly; grab to seize power
  4. to take hold of suddenly or forcibly, with or as with the hand; clutch
    1. to suddenly penetrate, illumine, or fill the mind of an idea seized him
    2. to grasp with the mind, esp. in a sudden or intuitive way seized their intent
  6. to take quick advantage of (an opportunity, etc.)
  7. to attack or afflict suddenly or severely seized with a fit of sneezing
  8. Naut. to fasten together (ropes, etc.), as by lashings; bind; lash

Etymology: ME saisen < OFr saisir < ML sacire, prob. < Frank *sakjan, to lay claim to one's rights < IE base *sāg- > sake

intransitive verb

to stick or jam, esp. because of excessive heat or friction: said of a machine or its moving parts: often with up

seize Related Forms

seiz′·able adjective seiz′er noun

seize Idioms

seize on

or seize upon
  1. to take hold of suddenly and forcibly
  2. to take possession of
  3. to turn eagerly to (an idea, etc.)

seize Synonyms

seize

v.

  1. To grasp

    take, take hold of, lay hold of, lay hands on, catch up, catch hold of, hang on, hang onto, catch, grip, clinch, clench, clasp, embrace, compass, grab, clutch, grapple, snag, pluck, appropriate, snatch, swoop up, enfold, enclose, pinch, squeeze, make fast, hold fast, possess oneself of, envelope.

    Antonyms leave*, pass by*, let alone.

  2. To take by force

    capture, rape, occupy, win, take, take captive, pounce, conquer, take by storm, take by assault, subdue, overwhelm, overrun, overpower, ambush, snatch, incorporate, exact, extend protection to, retake, carry off, apprehend, arrogate, arrest, secure, commandeer, force, gain, take, recapture, appropriate, take possession of, confiscate, take over, pounce on, usurp, overcome, impound, intercept, steal, purloin, expropriate, abduct, seize upon, snap up, nab, trap, throttle, lay hold of, lift, snap up, hook, collar, fasten upon, wrench, claw, snare, bag, catch up, jerk, freeze onto, batten on, wring, cull, get one's clutches on*, get one's fingers on*, get one's hands on, hijack, skyjack*, carjack*, kidnap*, rustle*, stick up*, hold up*, swipe*, clap hands on, scramble for, help oneself to*, jump a claim. *

  3. To comprehend

    perceive, see, know; see understand 1.

to seize is to get hold of or get control of suddenly and forcibly he seized the gun from the robber; to seize power; take is the general word meaning to get hold of by or as by the hands to take a book, the opportunity, etc.; grasp implies holding firmly to grasp a rope, an idea, etc.; clutch implies a tight or convulsive grasping of that which one is eager to take or keep hold of she clutched his hand in terror; grab implies a roughness or unscrupulousness in seizing the child grabbed all the candy; to grab credit; snatch stresses an abrupt quickness and, sometimes, a surreptitiousness in seizing she snatched the letter from my hand; to snatch a purse

seize Usage Examples

Object

  • throne: Graculus flies on ahead to tell the news of the wedding to prevent Nogbad from seizing the throne.
  • opportunity: May I seize the opportunity to wish you a very happy new year.
  • moment: Can Christians now seize the moment to remind people how different from Pullman's ' Almighty God ' is the God whom they worship?
  • asset: This accounts for almost 50 % of all total assets seized in the UK by police.
  • dozen: Direct home billing seized two dozen are not interested.
  • power: They seized power, hoping to apply their military skills to fixing the economy.

Subject

  • police: His assassin, 25-year-old Jewish law student Yigal Amir, was immediately seized by police.
  • crown: As a consequence large areas of land in Ulster were seized by the crown.

Adjective complement

solid: No motorways then and a cruising speed of 45mph and every human joint seized solid by the end of the journey.

Modifying Another Word

  • eagerly: They began issuing pamphlets, which I eagerly seized upon for information.
  • illegally: There is a risk that illegally seized evidence will be excluded from any criminal proceedings.
  • violently: Moreover, last year nearly all the crops were violently seized, and the peasant was left almost nothing for himself.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • upon: They are seized upon by media, hungry for eye-catching stories.
  • along: The entire product was seized along with 2 computers and a burning tower.

Preposition: of

matter: The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.

Preposition: from

criminal: Sussex Police has successfully obtained forfeiture orders for cash seized from suspected criminals.

Preposition: with

  • fear: But when he saw the strength of the gale he was seized with fear.
  • illness: Sir William Lindsay of Covington had been seized with illness, and was thought dead.

Preposition: by

  • police: His assassin, 25-year-old Jewish law student Yigal Amir, was immediately seized by police.
  • crown: As a consequence large areas of land in Ulster were seized by the crown.

Browse dictionary entries near seize

  1. ‹ seismoscope
  2. ‹ seismometer
  3. ‹ seismology
  4. ‹ seismograph
  5. ‹ seismogram
  6. ‹ seismo-
  7. ‹ seismicity
  8. ‹ seismic
  9. ‹ seisin
  10. ‹ seise
  1. seized ›
  2. seizin ›
  3. seizing ›
  4. seizor ›
  5. seizure ›
  6. sejant ›
  7. selachian ›
  8. selaginella ›
  9. selah ›
  10. Selangor ›