Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to seize up

to seize up

8 6.5
Stop working properly because of damage or lack of oil
  • phrasal verb
  • /siːz ʌp/
translation icon : bloquearse
  • I told you, my engine seized up.

So we're looking at all of the different things that could cause somebody to seize up.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • A few minutes later, the Rambler's engine seizes up.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Eduard's muscles seized up in an unconscious panic reaction.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • My whole body seized up a little.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Thirty seconds on the ice and it's already seized up!

    Big Miracle (2012)

  • If the engine ain't seized up, you got a chance.

    Slaughter High (1986)

  • My quads on both legs seized up, and I almost fell off my bike.

    Blog text (1)

  • My stomach's been seizing up on me.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The next morning my shaver stopped working, whined down, grated and growled, then seized up and merely hummed.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • My car's engine seized up during the long drive, and I had to call for a tow.

  • After hours of running continuously, the old machine finally seized up and stopped working.

Synonyms

to freeze
vsto seize up
244 1.6

Stop moving suddenly because of fear or surprise

stops from mechanical failure, wear, or lack of lubrication rather than fear
to stall
vsto seize up
36 3.9

To stop running suddenly, often because of a fault

stops from wear, injury, or poor lubrication rather than random faults
to act up
vsto seize up
15 5.9

A body part or health problem that starts to cause pain again after getting better

stops working because of injury or overuse rather than recurring pain
to jam
vsto seize up
13 4.4

Get stuck and stop moving or working

stops working from wear, injury, or lack of lubrication
to jam up
vsto seize up
  • Informal
8 4.7

Become blocked so things cannot move or work

stops because of mechanical strain or lack of lubrication rather than blockage
to gum up
vsto seize up
  • Informal
6 7.2

To make moving parts stuck with dirt or glue so they stop working

stops because of internal wear, injury, or poor lubrication not external clogging

Antonyms

to function
441 2.6

To work in a particular role or job

How Stuck

to seize up
8 6.5
to jam
13 4.4
to stick
752 3.4

Surface Forms

seize up infinitive
seized up past
seized up past participle
seizing up present participle
seizes up third person singular

Morphology

seize + up

The literal verb 'seize' (to take hold of or grip) plus the particle 'up' (denoting completion) gives a plausible image of something being held fast so it cannot move, so there is a clear semantic link to 'stop functioning or moving'. However, the specific mechanical/technical sense and the phrasal-verb usage are somewhat specialized and not fully predictable for an average B1 learner without exposure, making this only partially transparent.

Etymology

Seize up The phrasal verb seize up comes from the image of a machine or a joint suddenly getting stuck. When gears, an engine, or a knee seize, they become stuck and cannot move, so seize up means 'to stop functioning or moving properly'.