seize

[ seez ]

/ siz /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR seize 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.

Origin of seize

1250–1300; Middle English saisen, seisen < Old French saisir < Medieval Latin sacīre to place (in phrase sacīre ad propriētam to take as one's own, lay claim to) < Frankish, perhaps akin to Gothic satjan to set, put, place

SYNONYMS FOR seize

1 clutch, grab.

7 arrest, apprehend.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR seize ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR seize

7 release.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR seize ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for seize

7. See catch.

OTHER WORDS FROM seize

seiz·a·ble, adjective seiz·er; Law. sei·zor

[see-zer, -zawr] /ˈsi zər, -zɔr/, noun re·seize, verb (used with object), re·seized, re·seiz·ing. un·seiz·a·ble, adjective

un·seized, adjective

Words nearby seize

seismometer, seismonasty, seismoscope, seitan, seiu, seize, seize on, seize up, seizin, seizing, seizure

Example sentences from the Web for seized

Historically, conquering armies have seized inhabitants of conquered areas and enslaved them.

ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century Terrorism |Louise I. Shelley |December 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
MIAMI — Fidel Castro seized power in January 1959 after waging a guerilla war against then-dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Cuba Is A Kleptocracy, Not Communist |Romina Ruiz-Goiriena |December 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Authorities have seized more than $250 million in assets from businesses across Rome.

The Mayor Who Took Down the Mafia That Ruined Rome |Barbie Latza Nadeau |December 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We already have results: we destroyed many vehicles, military convoys, seized many trophies.

Fierce Fighting in Grozny Raises Specter of ISIS Influence in Russia |Anna Nemtsova |December 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

They seized key government buildings and forced the resignation of then Prime Minister Mohammed Basindwa.

Yemen’s a Model All Right—For Disaster |Michael Shank , Casey Harrity |November 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But Sal Kavannah seized him by the hand and dragged him forward.

Cleg Kelly, Arab of the City |S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
The non-importation act being still in force, these goods were seized as forfeited to the Government.

The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2 |J. T. Headley.
Bill seized him by the collar and said: "You want 'o fight?"

The Eagle's Heart |Hamlin Garland
He was suffered to get as far as the second thwart, or past most of the conspirators, when his legs were seized from behind.

Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 1 January 1848 |Various
As he watched the front of the truck, Jake, who stood a few feet to one side, leaned out and seized his shoulder.

Brandon of the Engineers |Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for seized

seize

/ (siːz) /

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr foll by on ) to take hold of quickly; grab she seized her hat and ran for the bus

(sometimes foll by on or upon) 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 (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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

seize

verb (used with object), seized, seiz·ing.

verb (used without object), seized, seiz·ing.

Origin of seize

SYNONYMS FOR seize

ANTONYMS FOR seize

synonym study for seize

OTHER WORDS FROM seize

Words nearby seize

Example sentences from the Web for seized

British Dictionary definitions for seized

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of seize

Word Origin for seize

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

seize

verb (used with object), seized, seiz·ing.

verb (used without object), seized, seiz·ing.

Origin of seize

SYNONYMS FOR seize

ANTONYMS FOR seize

synonym study for seize

OTHER WORDS FROM seize

Words nearby seize

Words related to seized

Example sentences from the Web for seized

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verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of seize

Word Origin for seize

British Dictionary definitions for seized