FluentPlex

seize

/ˈsiːz/ verb B1
  1. To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture. (transitive)
  2. To take advantage of (an opportunity or circumstance). (transitive)
  3. To take possession of (by force, law etc.). (transitive) · to seize smuggled goods· to seize a ship after libeling
  4. To have a sudden and powerful effect upon. (transitive) · a panic seized the crowd· a fever seized him
  5. To bind, lash or make fast, with several turns of small rope, cord, or small line. (transitive) · to seize two fish-hooks back to back· to seize or stop one rope on to another
  6. To lay hold in seizure, by hands or claws (+ on or upon). (intransitive) · to seize on the neck of a horse
  7. To have a seizure. (intransitive)
  8. To bind or lock in position immovably; see also seize up. (intransitive) · Rust caused the engine to seize, never to run again.

He/she/it seizes · Past seized · Past participle seized · -ing form seizing

+ Save to review

Verb forms

Base form
seize
He/she/it
seizes
Past
seized
Past participle
seized
-ing form
seizing

From the library

The Sheep, fearing some fraud was intended, excused herself, saying, “The Wolf is accustomed to seize what he wants and to run off; and you, too, can quickly outstrip me in your rapid flight.
Three Hundred Aesop's Fables, p. 62 · B2
“Never mind, dearest mother,” said a young and lovely girl, with a profusion of light brown hair, and eyes that seemed to float in liquid crystal, “’tis all my fault for seizing upon M.
The Count of Monte Cristo, p. 43 · C1
But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.
Three Hundred Aesop's Fables, p. 73 · B2
A NIGHTINGALE, sitting aloft upon an oak and singing according to his wont, was seen by a Hawk who, being in need of food, swooped down and seized him.
Three Hundred Aesop's Fables, p. 73 · B2

Other matches

Learn seize in real texts

With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.

Create free account
Words, meanings, pronunciations and translations from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); how common each word is from wordfreq. Made into this dictionary by FluentPlex.