Definition

1. Verb:

   • To illegally seize control of a vehicle (especially an aircraft) while it is in transit, typically by force or threat of force, often to divert it to a different destination or for other criminal purposes.
   • To take something arbitrarily or by force; to commandeer.

2. Noun:

   • An instance of illegally seizing control of a vehicle in transit.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • The terrorists attempted to highjack the commercial airliner.
  • Armed men highjacked the truck carrying the valuable shipment.

• Noun:

  • The highjack was foiled by air marshals on board.
  • They reported a highjack in progress to the authorities.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a political or terrorist context, implying the seizure is for a specific ideological or coercive purpose beyond simple robbery.
  • The dissidents planned to highjack the plane to draw attention to their cause.

Variants and Related Words

• Hijack: This is the more common modern spelling for the same word. "Highjack" is an older or variant spelling.
• Hijacker (n): A person who hijacks a vehicle.
• Hijacking (n): The act or instance of hijacking.

Synonyms

• Commandeer: To take control of (something, especially a vehicle) for military or official use, often by force.
• Seize: To take hold of suddenly and forcibly.
• Skyjack: Specifically to hijack an aircraft.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Phrases

• To hijack a conversation/meeting: Figuratively, to take control of a discussion and change its subject or direction to suit one's own agenda.
  • He always tries to hijack our team meetings to talk about his own projects.

Related Idioms

• While not a standalone idiom, the verb form is frequently used in figurative contexts, as shown above, to mean taking over or diverting something (like an agenda, event, or process) for an unintended purpose.

Noun

1. seizure of a vehicle in transit either to rob it or divert it to an alternate destination

Verb

1. take arbitrarily or by force
   • The Cubans commandeered the plane and flew it to Miami