ransomnoun [ C or U ]
uk/ˈræn.səm/us/ˈræn.səm/a large amount of money that is demanded in exchange for someone who has been taken prisoner, or sometimes for an animal:
a ransom demand/note
They demanded a huge ransom for the return of the little girl whom they had kidnapped.
The gang held the racehorse to/for ransom.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Payment methods
- ATM card
- baksheesh
- bank card
- bill
- blank cheque
- cash
- cash card
- cashpoint card
- certified cheque
- giro
- gratuity
- hard cash
- hush money
- per annum
- piece
- smart card
- standing order
- sweetener
- traveller's cheque
- voucher
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Idiom(s)
hold sb to ransom
ransomverb [ T ]
uk/ˈræn.səm/us/ˈræn.səm/to pay money in order to set someone free:
Her father ransomed her for a million dollars.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Paying money
- ante
- chargeable
- congestion charge
- demurrage
- disburse
- discharge
- disgorge
- expense
- fork
- fork out sth
- overspend
- pay up
- put sth down 1
- repayable
- self-financing
- sink
- spring
- square
- tip
- worth
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