# hijacked

/ˈhaɪˌdʒækt/ (US) · /hˈaɪdʒækt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hijacked
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

describing something that has been taken over by force or without permission.

For teachers: refers to a vehicle, system, or conversation that has been seized or diverted from its original purpose. Often used as a participial adjective following a linking verb or preceding a noun.

## Examples

- The hijacked plane landed safely at the airport.
- The meeting was hijacked by a small group of people who only wanted to talk about their own problems.
- Security experts warned that hijacked accounts were being used to spread misinformation across the network, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent posts.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The plane was hijack by rebels." but "The plane was hijacked by rebels." — Learners often forget the '-ed' ending when using the word as a passive verb or an adjective.

## Usage notes

- Typically functions as an adjective to describe the state of the object seized; when used as a verb form, it requires a direct object.

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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.