# captured

/ˈkæptʃɝd/ (US) · /kˈæptʃəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/captured
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to catch by force

verb · CEFR B1

to take someone as a prisoner or to catch an animal.

For teachers: to take into one's possession or control by force, strategy, or artifice.

- The soldiers captured the enemy leader after a long search in the mountains.
- The rebel forces captured the strategic outpost at dawn, effectively cutting off the supply lines to the capital city.

Usage: Transitive verb taking a direct object.

### 2. to record or represent

verb · CEFR B2

to record a moment, a feeling, or a scene in a photo, video, or story.

For teachers: to succeed in representing or recording an elusive quality, emotion, or atmosphere.

- The photographer captured the beautiful sunset perfectly in her latest picture.
- The novelist captured the melancholy of the post-war era with remarkable precision and emotional depth.

Usage: Often used in the context of art, photography, and literature.

### 3. taken prisoner

adjective · CEFR B1

describing someone or something that has been caught and is being held.

For teachers: having been taken into possession or confinement by force.

- The captured animals were treated well by the zoo keepers.
- The captured documents provided the intelligence agency with vital information regarding the group's future operations.

## Examples

- The soldiers captured the enemy fort during the night.
- The photographer captured the exact moment the sun dipped below the horizon, creating a stunning silhouette.
- The novelist's latest work successfully captured the growing sense of disillusionment felt by the post-war generation, earning her widespread critical acclaim for its emotional authenticity.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.