capture
capture — verb
1. to make a person or animal unable to escape from you, or to take a place using p
to make a person or animal unable to escape from you, or to take a place using physical power or arms
Police officers captured the thief after a short chase through the market.
passive: be captured + by [agent]
Government soldiers captured the bridge during the night attack.
The zoo team captured the escaped snake before anyone got hurt.
collocation: capture + escaped/runaway animal
Aiko was captured by enemy troops while trying to cross the border.
- capture a prisoner
- capture a city
- capture an animal
- captured by police
Grammar Patterns
capture + noun phrase (person/animal/place)
Usage Note
Frequently used in news reports about police work, military action, or animal control. The object is typically a person, animal, or place.
Common Mistakes
2. to obtain a desired thing that others are competing for at the same time
to obtain a desired thing that others are competing for at the same time
The company captured a large share of the market with its new phone.
collocation: capture + market share
Our school team captured first place at the national science competition.
Leila captured the top prize in the photography contest last week.
collocation: capture + top prize / first place
The new streaming service has captured millions of users in its first year.
- capture a prize
- capture market share
- capture first place
- capture a title
- lose
to fail to get something that others obtain instead
Grammar Patterns
capture + noun phrase (prize/position/share)
Usage Note
Often used in business and competition contexts. The object is a desired thing that others want, such as a prize, award, position, or customers.
Common Mistakes
3. to show or describe a feeling, quality, or scene in an accurate and powerful way
to show or describe a feeling, quality, or scene in an accurate and powerful way using words, pictures, or other art forms
The novel perfectly captures the loneliness of living far from home.
collocation: capture + feeling/emotion/atmosphere
This painting captures the warm light of the sun setting over the hills.
Hiro's photographs capture the daily life of fishermen on the coast of Japan.
The documentary captures what it feels like to train as an astronaut.
pattern: capture + wh-clause (what/how)
- capture a feeling
- capture the atmosphere
- capture the spirit
- capture the moment
Grammar Patterns
capture + noun phrase (feeling/atmosphere/quality)
Usage Note
Used for art, writing, film, and photography. The object is an abstract quality (feeling, mood, spirit) or a scene. Not used for simply taking a photograph — see sense 4 for camera recording.
Common Mistakes
4. to use a camera or other device to take a picture or record a video of someone o
to use a camera or other device to take a picture or record a video of someone or something
A news crew captured the entire ceremony on video.
pattern: capture + noun + on video/film/camera
Priya captured some incredible images of the northern lights in Norway.
The security camera captured a woman leaving the building just after midnight.
collocation: security camera captures [scene/event]
Diego captured the moment when the bride and father walked down the path.
- capture a moment
- capture on video
- capture an image
- capture footage
- record
more general; 'capture' often suggests a special or noteworthy moment
- photograph
only for still images; 'capture' covers both photos and video
- film
specifically for video recording
Grammar Patterns
capture + noun phrase (image/video/moment) + on/in [medium]
Usage Note
The most common sense in everyday conversation about photography and video. Often used with 'on camera', 'on video', 'on film', or 'with a [device]'.
5. if a computer, sensor, or other device receives information, it stores it for la
if a computer, sensor, or other device receives information, it stores it for later use
The sensor captures data about temperature and humidity every ten minutes.
pattern: device + captures + data/information + frequency
This app captures your spoken words and turns them into written text.
The scanner captures the barcode and checks the price in the system.
Our online system captures customer details when someone places an order.
collocation: capture + customer details / user input
- capture data
- capture information
- capture an image
- capture input
Grammar Patterns
capture + noun phrase (data/information/input)
Usage Note
Common in technology contexts. The subject is always a machine, system, or piece of software. Not used for people actively writing down information.
Common Mistakes
6. to make someone feel very interested, excited, or attracted by something unusual
to make someone feel very interested, excited, or attracted by something unusual, beautiful, or compelling
The idea of traveling to Mars captured the imagination of children around the world.
fixed expression: capture + imagination
Her speech about climate change captured the attention of everyone in the hall.
fixed expression: capture + attention
A story about a lost city of gold captured the hearts of readers everywhere.
The dancer's performance captured the interest of audiences across Europe.
fixed expression: capture + interest
- capture attention
- capture imagination
- capture interest
- capture hearts
- bore
to make someone feel uninterested
Grammar Patterns
capture + (someone's) + imagination / attention / interest
Usage Note
Almost always used with one of three fixed objects: imagination, attention, or interest — and occasionally 'heart(s)'. The subject is typically an idea, story, performance, or event, not a person.
Common Mistakes
capture — noun
1. the process of catching and holding a person or animal, or gaining control of a
the process of catching and holding a person or animal, or gaining control of a location through physical power
The capture of the escaped prisoner took place near the river.
collocation: the capture of + [person/place]
The army announced the capture of three enemy camps after two days of fighting.
Wild animals are sometimes killed during capture for the illegal pet trade.
The capture of the city marked a turning point in the war.
- the capture of
- escape capture
- avoid capture
- during capture
- release
the act of setting someone free
Usage Note
Used in news, military, and law enforcement contexts. Uncountable — do not say 'a capture' when referring to the general act.
2. the method of collecting a substance from nature, such as sunlight, water, or ca
the method of collecting a substance from nature, such as sunlight, water, or carbon, for future use
New technology has improved the capture of solar energy for home use.
collocation: capture of + [energy/water/carbon]
Carbon capture is one method of reducing pollution from power stations.
The system is designed for the capture of rainwater for the school garden.
New methods of carbon capture could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- carbon capture
- energy capture
- solar capture
- data capture
- collection
more general; 'capture' emphasizes the active process of gathering something elusive
- harvesting
for energy resources; 'capture' is more technical
Usage Note
Often appears in compound nouns like 'carbon capture', 'data capture', or 'rainwater capture'. Not used for collecting man-made objects.
3. the process of saving a picture, sound, or information using a device, or the sa
the process of saving a picture, sound, or information using a device, or the saved result of that process
The capture of high-quality video requires good lighting and a steady camera.
This device is designed for the capture of sound in large concert halls.
The final capture was saved as a digital file and shared with the team.
countable use: a capture = a recording/result
The screen capture shows exactly what the user saw on the monitor.
- video capture
- audio capture
- digital capture
- screen capture
Usage Note
Has both uncountable use (the process: 'the capture of video') and countable use (the result: 'a clean digital capture').
4. a photograph, especially one that a person shares on social media
a photograph, especially one that a person shares on social media
That is such a beautiful capture of the sunset over the mountains.
informal: used on social media for 'photo'
Yara posted a stunning capture of her cat sitting in a flower pot.
Nice capture — the lighting in that cafe window is perfect.
Lovely capture of the dogs playing in the autumn leaves!
- nice capture
- great capture
- stunning capture
- beautiful capture
Usage Note
Fairly new usage, common on social media platforms such as Instagram. A synonym for 'photo' or 'shot', often with a complimenting tone.
5. the process by which a computer or digital device receives and stores informatio
the process by which a computer or digital device receives and stores information automatically
Data capture happens automatically when customers fill in the online form.
collocation: data capture
The system allows for fast capture of customer information at the checkout.
Facial recognition software relies on the capture of images from security cameras.
Document capture saves time by turning paper forms into digital records.
- data capture
- image capture
- document capture
- digital capture
- acquisition
more formal and technical (data acquisition); 'capture' is more common in everyday tech contexts
- collection
broader; 'capture' implies automated gathering by a device
Usage Note
Often used in compound forms like 'data capture', 'image capture', 'document capture'. Refers to automated digital processes, not manual data entry.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words involve taking control of someone or something, but they differ in use and tone. 'Catch' is the most general word and can be used for people, animals, or moving objects (catch a ball, catch a thief). 'Capture' is stronger and often suggests using force or effort to take control — it is common in military, police, and animal-control contexts. 'Seize' is more sudden and forceful and often applies to places, opportunities, or property (seize a building, seize a chance). 'Arrest' is a legal term used only for taking a person into police custody. 'Trap' means to catch an animal or person by using a hidden device or a clever plan. For example: park rangers captured the bear near the campsite; the police arrested the suspect at his home; and the hunters trapped the fox in a cage.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'capture' entered English from French in the 1500s, coming from the Latin word 'captura', meaning 'a taking or catching'. The Latin root 'capere' means 'to take, hold, or seize', which is also the source of many other English words such as 'captive', 'captivate', 'capacity', and 'accept'. The modern meanings have stayed close to the original sense of taking by force or effort, but have expanded to include recording (taking an image) and attracting (taking someone's interest).