kidnap

UK: /ˈkɪdnæp/ US: /ˈkɪdnæp/ ,(kid′nap)

Inflections of 'kidnap' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

kidnaps

v 3rd person singular

kidnapping

v pres p (US & UK)

kidnaping

v pres p (US)

kidnapped

v past (US & UK)

kidnaped

v past (US)

kidnapped

v past p (US & UK)

kidnaped

v past p (US)

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

kid•nap /ˈkɪdnæp/   v. [~ + object] , -napped or -naped, -nap•ping or -nap•ing. 

1. to carry off (a person) by force or trickery, esp. for use as a hostage or to get money;
   abduct.

kid•nap•per, kid•nap•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

kid•nap  (kid′nap), v.t., -napped or -naped, -nap•ping or -nap•ing. 

1. to steal, carry off, or abduct by force or fraud, esp. for use as a hostage or to extract ransom.

• kid¹ + nap, variant of nab 1675–85

kid′nap•pee′, kid′nap•ee′, n. 
kid′nap•per, kid′nap•er, n.
Synonyms

seize, bear off, bear away.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

kidnap / ˈkɪdnæp/ verb ( -naps, -napping, -napped) ( -naps, -naping, -naped)

1. (transitive) to carry off and hold (a person), usually for ransom

Etymology: 17th Century: kid¹ + obsolete nap to steal; see nab

ˈkidnapper, ˈkidnaper noun