Definition

1. Verb:
   • To take hold of suddenly or forcibly; to grab: To grasp something quickly and with force.
   • To take possession of by legal authority or force: To confiscate or capture something, often through official power or aggressive action.
   • To capture or overwhelm: To affect someone suddenly and powerfully, as with an emotion, idea, or sensation.

Usage

• To take hold forcibly:
• To take control or possession:
• To affect suddenly:

Examples

• Taking hold:
• Taking control:
• Being affected:

Advanced Usage

• "Seize the day" (idiom): To make the most of the present moment; to take advantage of current opportunities.
  • After his recovery, he decided to seize the day and travel the world.
• "Seize upon/on": To take eager advantage of an idea, opportunity, or mistake.
  • The media seized on the politician's minor error.
• "Seize up": (Of a machine or part of the body) to become stuck or jammed, preventing movement.
  • The engine seized up due to a lack of oil.

Variants and Related Words

• Seizure (n): The act of seizing; a sudden attack, as of an illness.
  • The court ordered the seizure of the property.
  • He suffered an epileptic seizure.

Synonyms

• Grab: To take hold of something quickly.
• Confiscate: To take possession of something by authority.
• Capture: To take control of something by force.
• Clutch: To grasp or hold tightly.

Phrasal Verbs

• Seize on/upon: To adopt or make use of something eagerly.
  • She seized upon the chance to lead the project.
• Seize up: To stop moving or functioning because parts have become stuck.
  • My back seizes up if I sit for too long.

Related Idioms

• Seize the initiative: To take action to gain an advantage before others do.
  • The company seized the initiative by launching the product first.
• Seize power: To take control of a government, often by force.
  • The general led a coup to seize power.

Verb

1. capture the attention or imagination of
   • This story will grab you
   • The movie seized my imagination
2. affect
   • Fear seized the prisoners
   • The patient was seized with unbearable pains
   • He was seized with a dreadful disease
3. hook by a pull on the line
   • strike a fish
4. seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession
   • He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town
   • he usurped my rights
   • She seized control of the throne after her husband died
5. take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority
   • The FBI seized the drugs
   • The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment
   • The police confiscated the stolen artwork
6. take possession of by force, as after an invasion
   • the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants
   • The army seized the town
   • The militia captured the castle
7. take or capture by force
   • The terrorists seized the politicians
   • The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages
8. take hold of; grab
   • The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter
   • She clutched her purse
   • The mother seized her child by the arm
   • Birds of prey often seize small mammals