seize

seize — verb

1. to quickly put your hands on something and keep hold of it, doing so with force

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to quickly put your hands on something and keep hold of it, doing so with force or eagerness — for example, grabbing a phone from a table, or making immediate use of an opportunity the moment it appears.

Example

Lien seized the keys from the table and ran out the door.

seize + direct object (physical grab)

The toddler seized his mother's hand and refused to let go.

Common collocations
  • seize the opportunity
  • seize the chance
  • seize the moment
  • seize power
  • seize control
Synonyms
  • grab

    more informal and physical than seize

  • snatch

    suggests taking something away from someone quickly and often secretly

  • clutch

    emphasises holding tightly rather than the act of taking

Antonyms
  • release

    to let go of something you are holding

  • let go

    to stop holding something

Grammar Patterns

seize + noun phrase

Usage Note

Also used metaphorically for quickly accepting an opportunity, as in 'seize the moment' or 'seize the chance.' In this figurative use, the object is an abstract noun like opportunity, chance, or moment.

Common Mistakes

He took the keys from the table and ran.
He seized the keys from the table and ran.
'take' is neutral and slow; 'seize' implies speed and determination.

2. to use sudden physical force to capture a city, building, or person, especially

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to use sudden physical force to capture a city, building, or person, especially during a war, rebellion, or police operation.

Example

Rebel fighters seized the radio station and began broadcasting their message.

seize + location (military capture)

The army seized the port city after a two-week battle.

Common collocations
  • seize control
  • seize power
  • seize a building
  • seize a city
  • seize a suspect
  • seize a prisoner
Synonyms
  • capture

    more common for taking people or animals; can be gentler than seize

  • occupy

    describes taking and staying in a place, not the sudden violence

  • take over

    informal; suggests gaining control of a situation or organisation

Antonyms
  • liberate

    to set free a place or people from control

Grammar Patterns

seize + noun phrase (location / person)

Usage Note

Common in news reports about wars, rebellions, and police raids. When referring to a person, this sense means 'arrest' or 'capture' and emphasises the use of sudden force.

Common Mistakes

The police captured the stolen goods.
The police seized the stolen goods.
'capture' is for people or animals; 'seize' is for objects in this sense.

3. when police, customs officers, or other government officials take possession of

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

when police, customs officers, or other government officials take possession of goods, money, or property because they are illegal, unpaid for, or linked to a crime.

Example

Customs officers seized two hundred kilograms of cocaine at the airport.

authority + seize + illegal goods

The court ordered police to seize all assets gained from the fraud case.

Common collocations
  • seize assets
  • seize property
  • seize goods
  • seize drugs
  • seize documents
  • seize contraband
Synonyms
  • confiscate

    slightly more formal; used specifically in legal and customs contexts

  • impound

    used specifically for vehicles, documents, or property held temporarily

  • requisition

    formal; used by military or government taking property for official use

Antonyms
  • return

    to give back property that had been taken

  • release

    to let property go after it has been held

Grammar Patterns

seize + noun phrase (goods / property)

Usage Note

Subject is almost always an authority figure (police, customs, court, government). Frequently used in the passive voice: 'goods were seized.' The thing seized is usually illegal or obtained through crime.

Common Mistakes

The thief seized my wallet.
The thief stole my wallet.
'seize' in this legal sense requires an official authority, not a criminal.

4. when a strong emotion, pain, or physical sensation suddenly and powerfully overt

4.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

when a strong emotion, pain, or physical sensation suddenly and powerfully overtakes someone, often making them unable to think or act normally — for example, being seized by fear when you hear a loud noise in the dark.

Example

A sudden wave of panic seized the crowd when the fire alarm went off.

emotion + seize + person(s)

Elena was seized by an overwhelming fear as the elevator doors closed.

passive: be seized by + emotion

Common collocations
  • seized by fear
  • seized with panic
  • seized by doubt
  • seized by a feeling
  • seized with pain
Synonyms
  • overcome

    softer than seize; describes being affected by emotion, not necessarily sudden

  • overwhelm

    suggests a stronger effect that leaves a person unable to cope

  • grip

    similar in strength and suddenness; often used with fear, panic, or terror

Antonyms
  • calm

    the opposite emotional state; not a verb in this sense

Grammar Patterns

be seized by + emotion (fear / panic / pain)

Usage Note

The subject is always an emotion, feeling, or pain — never a person. Often found in literary and narrative writing. Passive form ('was seized by fear / panic / doubt') is very common.

Common Mistakes

He seized a panic when he saw the crash.
He was seized by panic when he saw the crash.
the emotion does the seizing; the person is the object.

5. when a machine, engine, or part of the body becomes stuck and stops working or m

5.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

when a machine, engine, or part of the body becomes stuck and stops working or moving properly, usually because of friction, heat, damage, or lack of lubrication.

Example

The car engine seized because nobody had changed the oil for years.

machine subject + seize (intransitive)

My father's knee seized up after he ran the marathon without warming up first.

body part + seize up

Common collocations
  • engine seizes
  • motor seizes
  • knee seizes up
  • back seizes up
  • muscle seizes up
Synonyms
  • jam

    more common for paper or moving parts in office equipment; less severe than seize

  • freeze

    suggests stopping suddenly; can apply to both machines and computers

  • lock up

    informal; used for both body parts and mechanisms

Antonyms
  • loosen

    to make a stuck part move freely again

  • unstick

    to free a jammed or seized part

Grammar Patterns

seize up (phrasal verb)

Usage Note

Often used as the phrasal verb 'seize up.' For machines, the cause is typically lack of maintenance or extreme conditions. For body parts, it refers to muscle or joint stiffness that prevents movement.

Common Mistakes

The engine stopped.
The engine seized.
'stopped' implies a deliberate action or a simple halt; 'seized' means it became stuck and cannot be restarted without repair.
Phrasal verbs

seize on / upon

phrasal verb

to quickly and eagerly use an idea, comment, opportunity, or piece of information for your own benefit or interest.

The newspaper seized on the mayor's careless remark and ran it as the front-page headline.

Indra seized upon the design flaw and developed it into a successful safety product.

seize up

phrasal verb

when a machine, engine, or body part becomes stuck and stops functioning, usually because of friction, cold, or strain.

The old tractor seized up after years of neglect in the damp barn.

Lukas's leg seized up during the final kilometre of the race, forcing him to stop.

seize on

phrasal verb

To quickly use or take advantage of something, especially an opportunity or idea.

Maya seized on the chance to study abroad in Japan.

The journalist seized on the politician's mistake and wrote a critical article.

seize upon

phrasal verb

To eagerly accept or use something, such as an idea or opportunity, often with enthusiasm.

Diego seized upon the suggestion and started planning immediately.

The company seized upon the new technology to improve its products.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe taking something with the hand, but they differ in speed, force, and intent. 'Grab' is the most general and informal — you can grab a snack or grab someone's arm. 'Snatch' adds an element of theft or secrecy: a thief snatches a purse and runs. 'Clutch' focuses on holding tightly once the object is in your hand, not on the act of taking — you clutch a bag strap in a crowded train. 'Seize' (as in this sense) emphasises speed and determination: you seize keys and run, or seize a chance when it appears. Compared to 'grab,' seize sounds more forceful and purposeful. For example: 'I grabbed a sandwich on my way out' (casual), versus 'He seized the documents before anyone could stop him' (urgent, determined).

grab ↗snatchclutch ↗take hold of

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • seize the day
  • seize the moment
  • seize an opportunity

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'seize' comes from Old French 'saisir' (to take possession of, put in possession of), which in turn comes from medieval Latin 'sacire' (to lay claim to). The original sense was legal — putting someone in possession of property — but over time the meaning broadened to any quick or forceful taking. The mechanical sense of 'seize up' dates from the early 20th century, when engines and moving parts became common.