highjack

UK: /ˈhaɪdʒæk/ US: (hī′jak′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

high•jack  (hī′jak′), v.t., v.i., n. 

1. hijack.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

highjack / ˈhaɪˌdʒæk/ verb , noun

1. a less common spelling of hijack

ˈhighˌjacker noun

ˈhighˌjacking noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hi•jack or high•jack /ˈhaɪˌdʒæk/   v. [~ + object]

1. to seize (an airplane or other vehicle) by threat or by force, esp. for ransom or political aims:
   The terrorists hijacked the plane.
2. to steal (cargo) from a truck or other vehicle after forcing it to stop:
   to hijack a load of whiskey.

n. [countable]

3. an act or instance of hijacking.

hi•jack•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hi•jack  (hī′jak′), v.t. 

1. to steal (cargo) from a truck or other vehicle after forcing it to stop:
   to hijack a load of whiskey.
2. to rob (a vehicle) after forcing it to stop:
   They hijacked the truck before it entered the city.
3. to seize (a vehicle) by force or threat of force.
4. to skyjack.

v.i. 

5. to engage in such stealing or seizing.

n. 

6. an act or instance or hijacking.

Also, highjack. 

• back formation from hijacker 1920–25, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hijack, highjack / ˈhaɪˌdʒæk/ verb

1. (transitive) to seize, divert, or appropriate (a vehicle or the goods it carries) while in transit: to hijack an aircraft

noun

1. the act or an instance of hijacking

Etymology: 20th Century: of unknown origin

ˈhiˌjacker, ˈhighˌjacker noun