seize

verb

ˈsēz

seized; seizing

transitive verb

usually seise

ˈsēz

: to vest ownership of a freehold estate in

often seise : to put in possession of something

the biographer will be seized of all pertinent papers

: to take possession of : confiscate

: to take possession of by legal process

: to possess or take by force : capture

: to take prisoner : arrest

: to take hold of : clutch

: to possess oneself of : grasp

: to understand fully and distinctly : apprehend

: to attack or overwhelm physically : afflict

seized with chest pains

: to possess (someone's thoughts, mind, etc.) completely or overwhelmingly

seized the popular imagination

Basil Davenport

: to bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff (such as yarn, marline, or fine wire)

intransitive verb

: to take or lay hold suddenly or forcibly

: to cohere to a relatively moving part through excessive pressure, temperature, or friction

—used especially of machine parts (such as bearings, brakes, or pistons)

: to fail to operate due to the seizing of a part

—used of an engine

seizer noun

Choose the Right Synonym for seize

take, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch, grab mean to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand.

take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

Example Sentences

The bank seized their property. The army has seized control of the city. A rebel group attempted to seize power. He suddenly seized the lead in the final lap of the race. He seized her by the arm. He tried to seize the gun from him. She was seized by kidnappers and carried off to a hidden location. He seized the chance to present his ideas to his boss. Seizing the moment, she introduced herself to the famous film director. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The press will be all too eager to seize upon Republican missteps to paint all House investigations as illegitimate.

The Editors, National Review, 25 Nov. 2022 Federal prosecutors have issued a stream of subpoenas in recent months in an effort to uncover Russian oligarchs’ assets hidden in the U.S., laying the groundwork to seize real estate, cash accounts and trust funds.

WSJ, 25 Nov. 2022 Petersen remains the heir apparent, despite his failure to seize his chances.

Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2022 There are wonderful comic touches galore, and quick-thinking toys and clever animal characters seize the spotlight.

Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2022 A few days after Cazes' arrest, with the crux of their work complete, Rabenn had flown back to the United States, and Hemesath had taken a brief trip to Phuket to check out the villa Cazes owned there, which the Thai government planned to seize.

Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2022 Baumbach, too, is taking flight, away from his regular zones of operation and into Spielberg country, where the highways seize up in mass panic, beneath a storm cloud as loomingly vast as a spaceship.

Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2022 Their seizure came after Greece assisted the United States in attempting to seize oil days earlier from the Iranian-flagged tanker Lana to enforce American sanctions.

Jon Gambrell, ajc, 17 Nov. 2022 September 2022: In a rapid offensive, Ukraine recaptures much of the northeastern Kharkiv region and threatens to reclaim territory long held by the separatists, enabling Kyiv to seize the momentum in the war.

Constant Méheut Ivan Nechepurenko Carly Olson Matthew Mpoke Bigg Victoria Kim Marc Santora Valeriya Safronova Marc Santora Brendan Hoffman Constant Méheut Constant Méheut Steven Erlanger Andrew E. Kramer Marc Santora Matthew Mpoke Bigg Lara Jakes, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'seize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English saisen, from Anglo-French seisir, from Medieval Latin sacire, of Germanic origin; perhaps akin to Old High German sezzen to set — more at set

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of seize was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century