- 1to take somebody/something in your hand suddenly and using force synonym grab seize something from somebody She tried to seize the gun from him. seize somebody/something He seized her by the arm. She seized hold of my hand. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbimmediately, suddenly prepositionby, from phrasesseize hold of somebody/something See full entry
- 2seize something (from somebody) to take control of a place or situation, often suddenly and violently They seized the airport in a surprise attack. The army has seized control of the country. He seized power in a military coup.
- 3seize somebody to arrest or capture somebody The men were seized as they left the building. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbimmediately, suddenly prepositionby, from phrasesseize hold of somebody/something See full entry
- 4seize something to take illegal or stolen goods away from somebody A large quantity of drugs was seized during the raid. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbimmediately, instantly, quickly, … verb + seizebe quick to, be ready to, be determined to, … prepositionon, upon phrasesan attempt to seize something, the power to seize something, the right to seize something, … See full entry
- 5seize a chance, an opportunity, the initiative, etc. to be quick to make use of a chance, an opportunity, etc. synonym grab The party seized the initiative with both hands (= quickly and with enthusiasm). Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbimmediately, instantly, quickly, … verb + seizebe quick to, be ready to, be determined to, … prepositionon, upon phrasesan attempt to seize something, the power to seize something, the right to seize something, … See full entry
- 6seize somebody (of an emotion) to affect somebody suddenly and deeply Panic seized her. He was seized by curiosity.
- 7= seize up (1) Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French seizir ‘give seisin (possession of land)’, from medieval Latin sacire, in the phrase ad proprium sacire ‘claim as one's own’, from a Germanic base meaning ‘procedure’.Extra examples He seized the book from her hand. He was immediately seized and thrown into prison. He was quick to seize on this idea. She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her. She seized him by the arm. The rumours were eagerly seized on by the local press. The wrestlers try to seize hold of each other. We have the legal right to seize his property. A Briton has been seized by border guards and jailed for eight years. Terrorists have seized his wife and children. The party seized the initiative with both hands. Phrasal Verbsseize onseize up
seize
verbBrE BrE//siːz//; NAmE NAmE//siːz//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they seize BrE BrE//siːz//; NAmE NAmE//siːz//
he / she / it seizes BrE BrE//ˈsiːzɪz//; NAmE NAmE//ˈsiːzɪz//
past simple seized BrE BrE//siːzd//; NAmE NAmE//siːzd//
past participle seized BrE BrE//siːzd//; NAmE NAmE//siːzd//
-ing form seizing BrE BrE//ˈsiːzɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈsiːzɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: seize
