seize upon
To grasp or take hold of suddenly, forcibly, or tightlyTo grasp or take hold of (an object) suddenly, forcibly, or tightly.
» I must seize upon this opportunity.
Meaning
3 sensesTo grasp or take hold of (an object) suddenly, forcibly, or tightly.
The child seized upon the cat's tail as soon as it was within reach.
To take up, embrace, enact, or turn eagerly to (a plan, idea, ideology, cause, practice, method, etc.); to grasp, understand, and accept quickly; to adopt wholeheartedly or vigorously.
I heard her ideas and seized upon them immediately.
The committee seized upon the new plan at once.
To take possession of or claim (an idea, person, event, etc.) as one's own; to assimilate, absorb, annex, co-opt.
After the controversy of her public statement, she has been the darling of right-wing groups who have seized upon her as the poster child of their cause.
Examples
1 sentencesI must seize upon this opportunity.
Forms
seizes upon, seizing upon, seized upon, seized upon| Base form | seize upon · to seize upon |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | seizes upon |
| Present participle | seizing upon |
| Past simple | seized upon |
| Past participle | seized upon |
irregular
Synonyms
3 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle