Definition

1. Verb:

   • To seize control of a vehicle (especially an aircraft) in transit, typically by force or threat of force, often to divert it to an alternative destination or for ransom.
   • To seize control of something (e.g., a process, event, or conversation) wrongfully or forcibly, diverting it from its intended purpose.

2. Noun:

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

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Terrorists attempted to hijack the commercial airliner.
  • The protesters hijacked the meeting to voice their own demands.
  • He hijacked the conversation and started talking about himself.

• Noun:

  • The hijack was foiled by air marshals.
  • News of the dramatic hijack spread quickly.

Advanced Usage

• "to hijack the agenda": to take control of a planned schedule of topics or events for one's own purposes.

  • A single member hijacked the committee's agenda with a personal grievance.

• "to hijack a thread": (in online forums) to divert a discussion topic to an unrelated subject.

  • Please don't hijack the thread; start a new one for your topic.

Variants and Related Words

• Hijacker (n): a person who hijacks a vehicle or process.

  • The hijackers demanded the release of political prisoners.

• Hijacking (n): the action or an instance of hijacking.

  • Airport security was increased following a series of hijackings.

• Carjack (v): to seize control of a car by force (a specific type of hijacking).

  • The victim was carjacked at a traffic light.

Synonyms

• Commandeer: to take control of (something, especially a vehicle) for military or official use, often without authority.
• Seize: to take hold of suddenly and forcibly.
• Skyjack (v/n): specifically to hijack an aircraft.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Hijack" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. The action is typically expressed by the verb alone or with a direct object.)

Related Idioms

• "A hijacked narrative": a story or account of events that has been taken over and distorted by a particular viewpoint.
  • The official report presented a hijacked narrative of the incident.

Noun

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

Verb

1. seize control of
   • they hijacked the judicial process
2. take arbitrarily or by force
   • The Cubans commandeered the plane and flew it to Miami