# Kidnapped

/ˈkɪdˌnæpt/ (US) · /kˈɪdnæpt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kidnapped
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. taken by force

verb · CEFR B2

to have been taken away by force and hidden, often so the captors can ask for money.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'kidnap', referring to the act of abducting a person by force or fraud.

- The wealthy businessman was kidnapped while he was walking to his car.
- The investigators determined that the diplomat had been kidnapped shortly after leaving the embassy, despite the presence of his security detail.

### 2. describing a victim

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a person who has been taken and is being held prisoner.

For teachers: functioning as a participial adjective to describe a person who is currently the victim of an abduction.

- The kidnapped children were finally found safe in a small house in the woods.
- The government refused to negotiate with the group, fearing that paying a ransom for the kidnapped journalist would encourage further attacks.

## Examples

- The criminals kidnapped the businessman for a large ransom.
- The police launched a massive search after witnesses reported seeing a child being kidnapped from the park.
- The historical novel describes how the protagonist was kidnapped and forced to serve on a pirate ship for several years before finally escaping.

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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.