Meaning & Definition of Seize in English

1. Take hold of

• Grab

• "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"

• "She clutched her purse"

• "The mother seized her child by the arm"

• "Birds of prey often seize small mammals"

2. Take or capture by force

• "The terrorists seized the politicians"

• "The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages"

3. Take possession of by force, as after an invasion

• "The invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"

• "The army seized the town"

• "The militia captured the castle"

4. Take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority

• "The fbi seized the drugs"

• "The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment"

• "The police confiscated the stolen artwork"

5. Seize and take control without authority and possibly with force

• Take as one's right or possession

• "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"

• "He usurped my rights"

• "She seized control of the throne after her husband died"

6. Hook by a pull on the line

• "Strike a fish"

7. Affect

• "Fear seized the prisoners"

• "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"

• "He was seized with a dreadful disease"

8. Capture the attention or imagination of

• "This story will grab you"

• "The movie seized my imagination"