seized

1. take hold of; grabExamples: "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The mother seized her child by the arm"Synonyms: clutch, prehend, seize

2. take or capture by forceExamples: "The terrorists seized the politicians"; "The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages"Synonyms: seize

3. take possession of by force, as after an invasionExamples: "the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"; "The army seized the town"; "The militia captured the castle"Synonyms: appropriate, capture, conquer, seize

4. take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authorityExamples: "The FBI seized the drugs"; "The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment"; "The police confiscated the stolen artwork"Synonyms: attach, confiscate, impound, seize, sequester

5. seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possessionExamples: "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"Synonyms: arrogate, assume, seize, take over, usurp

6. hook by a pull on the lineExamples: "strike a fish"Synonyms: seize