seizeseize /siːz/ ●●○ W3 verb [transitive] 
Suddenly, he seized my hand.seize something from somebody Maggie seized the letter from her.► see thesaurus at holdRegisterIn everyday English, people usually say grab or grab hold of rather than seize:· She grabbed hold of his hand.2to take control of a place suddenly and quickly, using military forceseize power/control (of something) The rebels have seized power. A group of soldiers seized the airport.3if the police or government officers seize something, for example illegal drugs, they take legal possession of it: 160,000 CDs were seized from illegal factories. All of my assets were seized, including my home.4to suddenly catch someone and make sure they cannot get away: The gunmen were seized at 1 am.5seize a chance/an opportunity/the initiative to quickly and eagerly do something when you have the chance to6be seized with/by terror/desire etc to suddenly be affected by an extremely strong feeling: When she saw his face, she was seized by fear.seize on/upon something phrasal verb to suddenly become very interested in an idea, excuse, what someone says etc: His every remark is seized upon by the press.seize up phrasal verb1if an engine or part of a machine seizes up, its moving parts stop working and can no longer move, for example because of lack of oil: The mechanism had seized up.2if a part of your body, such as your back, seizes up, you suddenly cannot move it and it is very painful
WORD ORIGINseize
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French saisir ‘to take possession of’, from Medieval Latin sacireVERB TABLE
seize
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | seize |
| he, she, it | seizes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | seized |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have seized |
| he, she, it | has seized | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had seized |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will seize |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have seized |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am seizing |
| he, she, it | is seizing | |
| you, we, they | are seizing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was seizing |
| you, we, they | were seizing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been seizing |
| he, she, it | has been seizing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been seizing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be seizing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been seizing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Come with me," said Nat, seizing him by the arm.
- Assets worth over $1 million were seized, along with documents relating to the company's financial dealings.
- Authorities have seized over 200 pounds of marijuana since Feb. 1.
- Over 52,000 E-tablets hidden in a car door were seized by customs officials.
- Police seized 53 weapons and made 42 arrests.
- Rebel soldiers attacked the island, seizing the capital and arresting government officials.
- Sudden alarm seized Frith.
- The General has been Head of State since he seized power in 1982.
- Three women were seized at gunpoint.
- After seizing power, the soldiers changed into civilian clothes and became presidents.
- All but a few would advise others to seize the chance and profit from it.
- I trembled and was seized by a sudden fear.
- Over 1,300 litres of highly alcoholic brew had been seized from one wing alone, in nine months.
- Over most of the twentieth century organizations worried about choosing and seizing growth opportunities through adding capacity and people.
THESAURUS
to have something in your hand, hands, or arms: · Maria came in holding a letter.· Can I hold the baby?
to hold something very tightly and not let it go: · He gripped her arm so she couldn’t walk away.· Jenny gripped the side of the boat to steady herself.
to hold something tightly, especially because you do not want to drop or lose it: · A businessman hurried past, clutching his briefcase.· The little girl clutched onto his hand.
written to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them: · She was clasping a bunch of small summer flowers.· He clasped her in his arms and kissed her.
to take something in your hand or hands and hold it: · I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could.· Quickly – try and get hold of that frog!
written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way: · She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
to take hold of something suddenly and often violently: · He grabbed my bag and ran off with it.· The other man grabbed hold of (=suddenly took hold of) my arms and threatened me with a knife.
written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently: · A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
to hold on to something or someone tightly to support yourself: · He hung on to the rail at the back of the motorbike.· Hang on tight!
to continue to hold something: · Greg was struggling to keep hold of the dog.· She tried to take her hand away but he kept hold of it.
Longman Language Activatorto get control of a situation, organization, country etc to get control of a situation, organization, or place: · He's invested a lot of money in the company since he took control last May.take control of: · Following requests from the police, the army has now taken control of the area.· Anne Williams will take control of the research division on August 5th.
to get control of a situation that is out of control: · The agriculture ministry is struggling to bring the latest outbreak of the disease under control.· Rioting broke out again last night, and police and soldiers are still struggling to bring the situation under control.· Government attempts to bring the drug problem under control have so far failed.
to get control of a situation again after you had lost control of it: · It took several hours for the police to regain control after a demonstration in the city centre turned violent.regain control of: · The extremists have managed to regain control of the party.· At last she seemed to regain control of the situation, and started to speak.
to get control of a company or organization, or become the leader, president etc after someone else: · People are wondering who's going to take over when the old dictator dies.take over something/take something over: · The company was taken over by Sony in 1989.take over from: · She took over from Barton as Managing Director in 1994.
if an army or group seizes power or an area of land, they get control of it by using force to suddenly take political control: · The General has been Head of State since he seized power in 1982.· Rebel soldiers attacked the island, seizing the capital and arresting government officials.
to get political and military control of a country or part of a country, especially during a war: · Rebel forces have taken the northern part of the region.
to get power to take political control of a country, especially by being elected: · When Mrs Thatcher came to power in 1979, no one expected her to stay there for 13 years.· After coming to power, President Clinton tried to resolve the conflict.
if a person or political party takes office , they start working in an official position of power or take political control of a country: · Less than three weeks after Labour took office, an economic crisis developed.· When Olson took office in January 1939, he was the state's first Democratic governor in forty years.
to get control of a country through violence: · The Bolsheviks took power in 1917.· General da Souza had the intention of taking power through a coup d'etat.
to get control of a country suddenly or quickly, by using military force: · Communist forces had come out in an attempt to seize power.· The Czar was overthrown when the revolutionaries seized power.
to take power from an existing government or organization by using military force: · A revolutionary government took over, featuring a reorganized council.· The authorities began to make the necessary arrangements for taking over the garrisons, which were still in the hands of the enemy.
to take something from someone to take something out of someone's hands: · Let me take your bags -- you look exhausted.· Oh, mom, could you just take this for a second?· He took her coat, and hung it in the hall.take something from somebody: · He walked slowly across the room and took the gun from her.take something off somebody informal: · Can you take some of these books off me?
to take something from someone with a sudden violent movement: · He just grabbed my camera and ran off with it.snatch/grab something from somebody/something: · Gerry snatched her diary from the desk, and she lunged to grab it back.snatch/grab something off somebody informal: · Paul grabbed the bag of sweets off his sister and ran away with it.
to take something important from someone, such as a possession or a right, either as a punishment or in a way that is wrong or unfair: take away something: · Mom's threatened to take away my stereo if my schoolwork doesn't improve.· The new law would take away the rights of workers to go on strike.· That's stupid -- it's like teaching someone to read, then taking away all their books!take something away: · No, Eli, I'm taking it away now!take something away from somebody: · Even though Polly still needs it, the authorities have taken the wheelchair away from her.
to take something such as drugs, guns, or documents from someone who is keeping them illegally or taking them from one place to another: · Police seized 53 weapons and made 42 arrests.· Over 52,000 E-tablets hidden in a car door were seized by customs officials.· Assets worth over $1 million were seized, along with documents relating to the company's financial dealings.
to take something such as a car or an animal away from someone and keep it in a special place until they are officially allowed to have it back: · The act will give the government new rights to impound untaxed cars and crush them. · The medical officer says that the animals will be impounded while tests are carried out.· Police recovered both items, and impounded a black BMW from the murder scene.
to officially take something away from someone, either as a punishment or because they are not allowed to have it: · Your vehicle can be confiscated if you are transporting marijuana.· The authorities will confiscate firearms found on a boat or plane if the owner cannot show proof of US licensing. confiscate something from somebody: · The group claims that billions of dollars in property and bank accounts was confiscated from Jewish businessmen in the Second World War.
if the army or other military organization commandeers something such as a vehicle or a building, they take it away from the owners in order to use it in a war: · Bud's truck had been commandeered by the regiment.· The officers had commandeered every house in the area.· A paramilitary group attempted to commandeer the bus and take it to Madrid.
to take away or not let someone have their rights, advantages etc, especially in a way that seems unfair: · Under Stalin, Soviet citizens were deprived of their most basic human rights.· The boy's parents claim the school's actions have effectively deprived their son of education.· Banning the carnival will deprive law-abiding citizens of a source of culturally valuable entertainment.
to completely take away someone's rights, responsibilities, or a prize they have won, especially as a punishment for doing something wrong: · The captain was stripped of his licence after the collision.· He was formally stripped of his American citizenship.· The ruling authority stripped him of his boxing title after he was convicted of importing heroin.· The court ruled that Learer's conviction did not constitute grounds for stripping her of custody of her four children.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The rebels have seized power. All of my assets were seized, including my home.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Politicians need to seize the initiative from the terrorists.
The rebels have seized power. All of my assets were seized, including my home. (=quickly use an opportunity)· As soon as she stopped speaking, I grabbed the chance to leave.
(=start holding something quickly and firmly)· She grabbed hold of the letter and tore it open.
Politicians need to seize the initiative from the terrorists. (=do something very eagerly when you have the chance)· She saw an opportunity to speak to him, and seized it.
(=take power by force)· His son seized power in a military coup.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· He was seized on January 17, and by February 6 was in Moscow as a prisoner of war.· Why should the Stephens family have seized on this as an event worthy of becoming a story?
· Any increase in the ability to see is useful and is at once seized upon.· Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, on Tuesday to confront him about the accusations, which he had seized upon and publicized.· Old repertoires break through, as similarities between present and past are seized upon and exaggerated.· The supposed one-to-one correspondence between thing and symbol was seized upon for two reasons.· His theory about language codes was seized upon by those seeking to explain why working-class children under-achieved at school.
NOUN· Her flailing hand slipped down to the pack, wrenching its cords open, just as cruel fingers seized her arm.· She seized his arm, turning him to see better, knowing it was a citizen bracelet.· My master seized me by the arm and pulled me over.· Somebody seized Marian by the arm.
· With tight defence budgets, Trinidad is trying to change the law to make use of seized assets a priority.· None the less, the plaintiffs can move immediately to seize his assets.· He seized the assets of all those he held, doubtless exceeding his authority in cases of the very wealthy.
· A later attempt to seize a crucial bridge was also beaten back.
· Travis had left the door open - she seized her chance, and was through it like a shot.· Some people see the possibilities intended in the new words and seize the chance for change.· He seized his chance and slammed into its rear wing again.· I seized the chance to ask for a tow, anything to get us clear of that suicidal place.· Magilton then seized his chance, collecting the rebound to score from close range.· Deadwood was an opportunity he could not afford to give up, and so she seized the chance for a visit home.· And now Tzanibey has seized the chance to defy you and poison it?· It occurred to him that he might seize the chance to declare his own innocence.
· There may also be an opportunity to seize the high ground, Panetta said.· The company, though, is trying to seize the high ground and demonstrate that agricultural biotechnology can be used for good.· Houston also seized the mental high ground for a possible playoff matchup, which could occur as early as the first round.· Some corporations have seized the moral high ground.
· Madeleine's hands seized the pillow and held it to her in a quick embrace.· He puts his dry biscuit down, and with his left hand seizes his right elbow.· A hand seized him by the hair and yanked his head back.· The man held out his hand, which George seized and shook vigorously.
· Then he seized the initiative in a dramatic fashion, just as he had in April 1182.· This enabled Philip to seize the initiative again.· Everyone in the organization can therefore seek out and seize initiatives to improve their contribution to profit.· The trap of performing types is to display their efficiency by constantly seizing the initiative.· Instead of standing there helplessly until the end of the performance, seize the initiative and act quickly.· Obliged to seize the initiative, he announced in 1920 his first campaign of mass non-co-operation.· Fortunately the Governor seized the initiative and the same day called on Nu to take over as prime Minister.
· More often they failed and the Roberts seized their land as security.· The state seized the land in 1986.
· Maybe-and this he feared more than anything-he would be afraid to seize such a moment when it came.· The moral was that we must seize our few bright moments and live deeply.· Aurangzeb seized the moment and pressed forward.· The only way we can actually balance the budget is if we seize this moment to work together.· The conservatives are seizing the moment to push through deep reforms before the honeymoon ends.· Louise saw him miss the beat, and she seized the moment, stepping forward.· A brilliant coup, seizing his moment when Black's forces are scattered at the edge of the board.
· August 20: Cannabis plants worth £2,500 seized by drugs squad officers at a house in the Waterside area of Londonderry.· Read in studio Voice over Nine hundred bootleg videos of pop concerts have been seized by trading standards officers.
· None the less, the opportunity has been seized with skill.· There may also be an opportunity to seize the high ground, Panetta said.· An important cash advantage or money making opportunity can be seized.· This is just what Jody loves to see: physical, aggressive play, every opportunity seized, all pistons firing.· The opportunity which he seized turned out to his own detriment.· When his opportunity came to seize the party leadership, he proceeded with characteristic single-mindedness that bordered on ruthlessness.· There is a great opportunity to be seized.· See an opportunity, seize it.
· During raids on members' homes the police seized a large amount of weapons as well as racist and anti-immigrant literature.· The police seized the money and arrested everyone.· Now police have seized 3,000 forged lapel tickets in a raid on this Birmingham pub and a number of houses.· Drugs raid ... police seize ecstacy tablets in run up to warehouse party.· Heroin haul ... police seize drugs at illegal rave party site.
· Having seized political power, the new ruling class presides over the transformation of the social structure.· He ruled Over the other Titans until his son Zeus dethroned him and seized the power for him-self.· Siban's son was a prisoner under sentence of death for his conspiracy to seize power.· When they then found out about their own significance in procreation they seized power entirely.· If the military were to seize power under Bourbollon, the clamp down would be fierce.· René seized power in a military coup in June 1977.
· The Prussian crown and several smaller principalities which seized the properties told the churches to raise money from their own members instead.· Prosecutors said they were preparing to seize property and millions of dollars worth of alleged proceeds of arms dealing.· They were therefore guilty of robbery when they used force seconds after seizing the property.· Many cadres themselves seized the property of the condemned, or spared their own relatives.· The president may not seize private property without congressional authorization. 11.· She also argued that under the Fifth Amendment, the government owed her compensation for seizing property that was partly hers.
· The rebels seized the chance to return to Lusignan in force and begin to rebuild it.· A Tutsi-led rebel group seized power in July 1994 and halted the slaughter soon afterward.
VERB· Military officers have tried to seize power six times since Mrs Aquino became President three years ago.· The response: No one ever tried to seize frequent flier miles.· The company, though, is trying to seize the high ground and demonstrate that agricultural biotechnology can be used for good.· The husband tried to seize a portrait of her, an oil painting, rip it right off the wall.· He was joined in trying to seize control of Olympia&.· The passengers who jammed the vessel were in a frenzy as they tried to seize pieces of the omelets.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1to take hold of something suddenly and violently SYN grab: - Some corporations have seized the moral high ground.
- Television is therefore seen to be taking the moral high ground, the side of the punter against the forces of evil.
Suddenly, he seized my hand.seize something from somebody Maggie seized the letter from her.► see thesaurus at holdRegisterIn everyday English, people usually say grab or grab hold of rather than seize:· She grabbed hold of his hand.2to take control of a place suddenly and quickly, using military forceseize power/control (of something) The rebels have seized power. A group of soldiers seized the airport.3if the police or government officers seize something, for example illegal drugs, they take legal possession of it: 160,000 CDs were seized from illegal factories. All of my assets were seized, including my home.4to suddenly catch someone and make sure they cannot get away: The gunmen were seized at 1 am.5seize a chance/an opportunity/the initiative to quickly and eagerly do something when you have the chance to6be seized with/by terror/desire etc to suddenly be affected by an extremely strong feeling: When she saw his face, she was seized by fear.seize on/upon something phrasal verb to suddenly become very interested in an idea, excuse, what someone says etc: His every remark is seized upon by the press.seize up phrasal verb1if an engine or part of a machine seizes up, its moving parts stop working and can no longer move, for example because of lack of oil: The mechanism had seized up.2if a part of your body, such as your back, seizes up, you suddenly cannot move it and it is very painful