1. (

• seize ,
• prehend ,
• clutch

) take hold of; grab; "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The mother seized her child by the arm"; "Birds of prey often seize small mammals" ;

2. (

• seize ,

) take or capture by force; "The terrorists seized the politicians"; "The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages" ;

3. (

• appropriate ,
• capture ,
• seize ,
• conquer

) take possession of by force, as after an invasion; "the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"; "The army seized the town"; "The militia captured the castle" ;

4. (

• impound ,
• attach ,
• sequester ,
• confiscate ,
• seize ,

) take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority; "The FBI seized the drugs"; "The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment"; "The police confiscated the stolen artwork" ;

5. (

• assume ,
• usurp ,
• seize ,
• take_over ,
• arrogate

) seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died" ;

6. (

• seize ,

) hook by a pull on the line; "strike a fish" ;

7. (

• seize ,
• clutch ,
• get_hold_of

) affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease" ;

8. (

• grab ,
• seize

) capture the attention or imagination of; "This story will grab you"; "The movie seized my imagination" ;