ENGLISH
REFERENCE

seizing

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsizɪŋ// UK //sˈiːzɪŋ// seiz·ing

v. to take hold of something suddenly and with force. You can also use it when the police take something away because it is against the law.

v. to take hold of something suddenly and forcibly; to take legal possession of property by right of legal authority. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The police are seizing the illegal goods now.

CONTEXTUAL

Customs officers are seizing any prohibited items found in the passengers' luggage during the routine inspection.

COMPLEX

The revolutionary forces are seizing control of the capital's main communication hubs to prevent the government from broadcasting further propaganda.

Synonyms
Origin

From seize + -ing.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. When used in a legal context, it often takes the preposition 'by' to indicate the authority used.

Pitfall

The police is seizing the car.The police are seizing the car.In British English and many international contexts, 'police' is a collective noun that takes a plural verb.

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