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Glite Dictionary
highjacking

highjacking

8.1
Taking a moving vehicle by force to steal things or demand money
  • noun
  • /haɪˈdʒækɪŋ/
  • US
translation icon : secuestro
  • He was convicted for his involvement in the highjacking of an armored truck.

Examples

  • The recent highjacking of the bus shocked the entire community.

  • The authorities are investigating a highjacking that took place on the highway last night.

  • After the highjacking, the police issued new safety guidelines for drivers.

  • Authorities are investigating a highjacking that occurred last night.

  • He was convicted for his involvement in the highjacking of an armored truck.

  • The recent highjacking of the bus shocked the entire community.

  • The authorities are investigating a highjacking that took place on the highway last night.

Synonyms

hijacking
vshighjacking
  • NSFW
37 7.0

To take control of a moving vehicle by force or threats

stresses the illegal act and its common motive of robbery
hijack
vshighjacking
  • NSFW
10 6.8

An act of taking control of a vehicle while it moves, often to steal or change its route

focuses on the unlawful act and often includes extortion as purpose
highjack
vshighjacking
  • US
7.9

An act of taking control of a plane or vehicle by force

is broader, highlighting illegal taking rather than only purpose

Antonyms

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

Surface Forms

highjacking singular
highjackings plural

Morphology

highjacking = hijack (transparent) = hijack + ing

Derived productively from the verb 'hijack' with the gerund/nominalizing '-ing', so the meaning is directly predictable from the base verb.

Etymology

The word highjacking comes from two parts, high (from 'highway', a road for moving vehicles) and jack ('to take by force'). So highjacking means taking control of a vehicle while it is moving, often to steal or threaten the people inside.