# hijack

/ˈhaɪˌdʒæk/ (US) · /hˈaɪdʒæk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hijack
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to seize a vehicle

verb · CEFR B2

to take control of a plane, ship, or truck by force while it is moving.

For teachers: to forcibly seize control of a vehicle in transit, typically an aircraft, ship, or truck, for robbery or political purposes.

- The criminals tried to hijack the truck to steal the expensive electronics inside.
- Security protocols were significantly tightened after the attempt to hijack the commercial flight was thwarted by the crew.

Usage: Transitive; always takes a direct object representing the vehicle or its occupants.

### 2. to take over a process

verb · CEFR B2

to take control of a meeting or a conversation and change the topic to what you want to talk about.

For teachers: to seize control of a process, resource, or discussion to achieve a purpose other than the original intent.

- He tried to hijack the meeting to talk about his own project instead.
- The activist group was accused of attempting to hijack the public forum to promote their specific political agenda.

Usage: Often used metaphorically in business and political contexts.

### 3. an act of seizure

noun · CEFR B2

an event where someone takes control of a vehicle or a process by force.

For teachers: an instance of illegal seizure of a vehicle or the redirection of a process.

- The news reported a daring hijack of a cargo ship in the ocean.
- The failed hijack resulted in a tense standoff between the authorities and the suspects at the airport perimeter.

Usage: Countable noun.

### 4. poker position

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Technical

in the game of poker, the seat two places to the left of the dealer.

For teachers: the position two seats to the right of the button (dealer), situated between the cutoff and the lojack.

- He decided to raise his bet because he was sitting in the hijack.
- Aggressive players often use the hijack position to steal the blinds before the action reaches the button.

Teaching tip: This is highly specialized jargon used almost exclusively by poker players.

## Examples

- He tried to hijack the meeting to talk about his own project.
- The protesters attempted to hijack the press conference to ensure their demands were heard by the national media.
- In the digital age, malicious actors may hijack a user's social media account to spread misinformation or harvest personal data from their contacts.

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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.