to seize on

Examples

• All

• Because anything the First Lady does that is different everyone seizes on.

  Jackie (2016)

• Mitt Romney and other Republicans had seized on the omission to criticize the Democrats.

  Blog text (25)

• I mean perhaps we will seize on some of them.

  Harvard University

• The media, unfortunately, tends to seize on things like this.

  Xtinction: Predator X (2010)

• Women and now one woman will seize on these new technologies to create more gender equality.

• Democrats immediately seized on this as a violation of democracy.

  Academic text (1997)

• As you're comparing the two, look how quickly the West seized on the firearm and made great use of it.

  Reclaiming the Blade (2009)

• President Bush, in his new initiatives for education, has seized on the concept of business/school partnerships.

  Academic text (1991)

• Many people seized on Rimmer's premise and tried to create working multipartner relationships.

  Academic text (2004)

• The company quickly seized on the chance to expand into new markets.

Synonyms

E

to exploit

vsto seize on

95 4.1

To use resources or chances well to get a good result

adds a quick, eager reaction element focused on taking remarks or chances

C

to capitalize

vsto seize on

76 4.9

To use a situation to get an advantage

adds quick eagerness and sudden action to this advantage taking notion

C

to cash in on

vsto seize on

30 4.4

Get money or other benefits from a situation, often unfairly

is more general covering eager use of ideas and remarks not only profit

S

to snatch up

vsto seize on

24 4.6

To grab something quickly, often before someone else

is used more broadly for ideas and comments, not only objects

J

to jump on

vsto seize on

23 4.3

To use an opportunity quickly

is used for ideas and small remarks as well as larger chances

S

to seize the opportunity

vsto seize on

10 3.9

Act quickly to use a good chance

also applies to grabbing small remarks or ideas, not only external chances

G

to get one's claws into

vsto seize on

• Informal

1 8.4

To become strongly involved in something and take control of it

does the same taking, but is less forceful and less about control

F

to fasten on

vsto seize on

1 6.5

To quickly accept an idea and focus on it

focuses more on quickly taking advantage rather than only adopting ideas

S

to snatch the opportunity

vsto seize on

3.9

To take a chance quickly before other people do

includes quick, eager use of remarks and ideas as well as chances

J

to jump on the offer

vsto seize on

3.5

To accept an offer or chance quickly before someone else does

also applies when reacting to remarks or plans, not only to presented chances

B

to bounce on

vsto seize on

• Informal

7.2

Act quickly to take an opportunity before others do

is similar but also applies to brief comments or passing ideas

C

to catch a wave

vsto seize on

• Informal

6.9

To use a rising trend or new interest to grow quickly

applies to quick, eager use of comments or ideas as well as trends

Antonyms

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

O

to overlook

243 2.9

To not notice someone or something you should see

How Eager

to exploit

95 4.1

to seize on

19 5.3

to pick up on

142 3.9

to notice

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology