# intercept

/ˌɪnɝˈsɛpt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intercept
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to stop something in transit

verb · CEFR B2

to stop or catch someone or something that is going from one place to another.

For teachers: to prevent someone or something from continuing to a destination by stopping or catching them in transit.

- The police managed to intercept the car before it reached the border.
- Intelligence agencies worked around the clock to intercept the encrypted message before it could be delivered to the sleeper cell.

Usage: Transitive verb taking a direct object.

### 2. to catch a pass

verb · CEFR B2

to catch a ball that was intended for a player on the other team.

For teachers: to gain possession of a ball or puck by catching it during a pass intended for an opponent.

- The defender ran forward to intercept the pass and started a fast break.
- The cornerback read the quarterback's eyes perfectly, allowing him to intercept the ball at the goal line and return it for a touchdown.

Usage: Commonly used in American football, rugby, and basketball.

### 3. a recorded message or call

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the act of listening to or recording a private phone call or radio message.

For teachers: the act or instance of capturing a transmitted signal, such as a telephone call or radio broadcast, for surveillance purposes.

- The evidence against the gang came from a phone intercept.
- The legal team argued that the radio intercept was obtained without a proper warrant and should be excluded from the trial.

Usage: Often used in the context of law enforcement or espionage.

### 4. graph intersection

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

the point where a line crosses the x-axis or y-axis on a graph.

For teachers: the coordinate of a point at which a line or curve intersects a coordinate axis.

- To find the y-intercept, you must set the value of x to zero.
- The linear equation was easily graphed once the students identified the vertical intercept and the slope of the line.

Usage: Usually specified as the 'x-intercept' or 'y-intercept'.

## Examples

- The police managed to intercept the stolen car before it reached the border.
- The defender jumped high to intercept the pass, preventing the other team from scoring a touchdown.
- Intelligence agencies worked for months to intercept the encrypted communications, eventually uncovering the network's primary base of operations through signal triangulation.

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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.