[+ obj] 1 a : to use legal or official power to take (something)
▪ Police seized [=confiscated] the weapons and drugs. ▪ The bank seized their property.
b : to get or take (something) in a forceful, sudden, or violent way
▪ The army has seized control of the city. ▪ A rebel group attempted to seize power. ▪ He suddenly seized the lead in the final lap of the race.
c : to attack and take control of (a place) by force or violence
▪ The soldiers seized [=captured] the fort. 2 a : to forcefully take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms : grab
▪ He seized her by the arm. ▪ He tried to seize the gun from him. ▪ She seized hold of my hand. [=she seized my hand]
b : to take (someone) as a prisoner
▪ The police seized [=arrested] the robbers. ▪ Seize that man! ▪ She was seized by kidnappers and carried off to a hidden location. 3 : to take or use (something, such as a chance or opportunity) in a quick and eager way
▪ He seized the chance/initiative/opportunity to present his ideas to his boss. ▪ My father taught me to seize the day. [=to do the things I want to do when I have the chance instead of waiting for a later time] ▪ Seizing the moment, she introduced herself to the famous film director. 4 a : to begin to affect (someone) suddenly
▪ Panic seized him. = He was seized by panic.
b : to have a powerful effect on (someone)
▪ His movies seized the public's imagination. [=the public became very interested in and enthusiastic about his movies] ▪ She was suddenly seized with the idea [=she suddenly had the idea] of owning her own restaurant.