seize

UK: /ˈsiːz/ US: /siz/ ,(sēz)

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

seizes

v 3rd person singular

seizing

v pres p

seized

v past

seized

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

seize /siz/   v., seized, seiz•ing. 

1. to take hold with force;
   grasp: [~ + object]
   He seized a knife.
   [no object]
   to seize on a rope.
2. to grasp with the mind;
   understand:
   [~ + object] to seize an idea.
3. to take possession of, as if by grasping:
   [~ + object] Panic seized the crowd.
4. Law to take possession of by authority;
   confiscate:
   [~ + object] The bank seized all his assets.
5. to capture;
   take into custody:
   [~ + object] The police seized the two men.
6. to take advantage of promptly: [~ + object]
   to seize an opportunity.
   [~ + on + object]
   He seized on the opening his opponent gave him.
7. Mechanical Engineering to have moving parts stop moving as a result of too much pressure or friction:
   [no object* ~ + up] The engine seized up in the extreme heat.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

seize  (sēz), v., seized, seiz•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp:
   to seize a weapon.
2. to grasp mentally;
   understand clearly and completely:
   to seize an idea.
3. to take possession of by force or at will:
   to seize enemy ships.
4. to take possession or control of as if by suddenly laying hold:
   Panic seized the crowd.
5. Law to take possession of by legal authority;
   confiscate:
   to seize smuggled goods.
6. Law Also, seise. to put (someone) in seizin or legal possession of property (usually used in passive constructions):
   She was seized of vast estates.
7. to capture;
   take into custody.
8. to take advantage of promptly:
   to seize an opportunity.
9. Nautical, Naval Terms to bind or fasten together with a seizing.

v.i. 

10. to grab or take hold suddenly or forcibly (usually fol. by on or upon):
    to seize on a rope.
11. to resort to a method, plan, etc., in desperation (usually fol. by on or upon):
    He must seize on a solution, however risky.
12. Mechanical Engineering to have moving parts bind and stop moving as a result of excessive pressure, temperature, or friction (usually fol. by up):
    The engine seized up from cold.

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

seiz′a•ble, adj. 
seiz′er*  [Law.] sei•zor  (sē′zər, -zôr), n.  Synonyms

• 1. clutch, grab.
• 7. arrest, apprehend. See catch. 

Antonyms

• 7. release.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

seize / siːz/ verb (mainly tr)

1. (also intr) followed by on : to take hold of quickly; grab
2. sometimes followed by on or upon: to grasp mentally, esp rapidly: she immediately seized his idea
3. to take mental possession of: alarm seized the crowd
4. to take possession of rapidly and forcibly: the thief seized the woman's purse
5. to take legal possession of; take into custody
6. to take by force or capture: the army seized the undefended town
7. to take immediate advantage of: to seize an opportunity
8. to bind (two ropes together or a piece of gear to a rope)
   See also serve19
9. (intransitive) often followed by up: (of mechanical parts) to become jammed, esp because of excessive heat
10. the US spelling of seise

Etymology: 13th Century saisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre to position, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic satjan to set¹

ˈseizable adjective