: to cohere to a relatively moving part through excessive pressure, temperature, or friction—used especially of machine parts (such as bearings, brakes, or pistons)
b
: to fail to operate due to the seizing of a part—used of an engine
take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.
take some salad from the bowl
seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.
seized the suspect
grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.
grasp the handle and pull
clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.
clutching her purse
snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.
snatched a doughnut and ran
grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.
grabbed roughly by the arm
Example Sentences
The bank seized their property. The army has seized control of the city. A rebel group attempted to seize power. He suddenly seized the lead in the final lap of the race. He seized her by the arm. He tried to seize the gun from him. She was seized by kidnappers and carried off to a hidden location. He seized the chance to present his ideas to his boss. Seizing the moment, she introduced herself to the famous film director.See More
Recent Examples on the WebThat’s the challenge Harsin has presented to his offense this week: When the opportunity arises to make a play, seize it. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2022 After Ukraine repelled a Russian thrust toward Kyiv in spring, Moscow’s forces captured some territory in its neighbor’s east by using artillery and airstrikes to demolish cities and then seize them. James Marson, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 Amid the undoubted challenges of a dynamic marketplace, opportunities abound and so do the potential ways to seize them. Lisa Caldwell, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 The most key challenges for me, personally, were sourced in the various fears that can seize you up and keep you from getting the job done right. John Hoffman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 The island’s people live under constant threat from a powerful authoritarian neighbor, China, which claims sovereignty over democratic Taiwan and vows to seize it by force if necessary. Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 3 July 2022 The erratic movements of the boat show the increasing desperation of oligarchs to keep their ships off the radar of governments trying to seize them. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 26 May 2022 Kaul, like Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, has advocated for universal background checks and a red-flag law that would allow family members and police to ask judges to seize guns from people who might pose a threat. Todd Richmond, ajc, 26 Aug. 2022 Mills, on the other hand, opposes gun control efforts, including red-flag laws that allow law enforcement to temporarily seize firearms from people suspected of being dangerous. Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English saisen, from Anglo-French seisir, from Medieval Latin sacire, of Germanic origin; perhaps akin to Old High German sezzen to set — more at set