seize
verb/siːz/
/siːz/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they seize | /siːz/ /siːz/ |
| he / she / it seizes | /ˈsiːzɪz/ /ˈsiːzɪz/ |
| past simple seized | /siːzd/ /siːzd/ |
| past participle seized | /siːzd/ /siːzd/ |
| -ing form seizing | /ˈsiːzɪŋ/ /ˈsiːzɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] to 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.
Extra Examples- He seized the book from her hand.
- The wrestlers try to seize hold of each other.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- suddenly
- by
- from
- seize hold of somebody/something
- [transitive] seize 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.
- [transitive] seize somebody to arrest or capture somebody
- The men were seized as they left the building.
- Terrorists have seized five hostages.
Extra ExamplesTopics Law and justicec1, Crime and punishmentc1- He was immediately seized and thrown into prison.
- A Briton has been seized by border guards and jailed for eight years.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- suddenly
- by
- from
- seize hold of somebody/something
- [transitive] seize something to take illegal or stolen goods away from somebody
- A large quantity of drugs was seized during the raid.
- We have the legal right to seize his property.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- instantly
- quickly
- …
- be quick to
- be ready to
- be determined to
- …
- on
- upon
- an attempt to seize something
- the power to seize something
- the right to seize something
- …
- [transitive] seize 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).
- She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.
Homophones seas | sees | seizeseas sees seize/siːz//siːz/Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- instantly
- quickly
- …
- be quick to
- be ready to
- be determined to
- …
- on
- upon
- an attempt to seize something
- the power to seize something
- the right to seize something
- …
- [transitive] seize somebody (of an emotion) to affect somebody suddenly and deeply
- Panic seized her.
- He was seized by curiosity.
- [intransitive] (North American English) (also seize up British and North American English)if a machine seizes, it no longer works because the parts are stuck and cannot move
- (North American English) (also seize up British and North American English)if a part of your body seizes, you are unable to move it easily and it is often painful
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’.
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