capture

noun cap·ture \ ˈkap-chər , -shər \

|Updated on: 3 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: capture in a Sentence

Definition of capture

1 : an act or instance of capturing: such as

a : an act of catching, winning, or gaining control by force, stratagem, or guile

the capture of the city by enemy forces

b : a move in a board game (such as chess or checkers) that gains an opponent's piece

c : the absorption by an atom, nucleus, or particle of a subatomic particle that often results in subsequent emission of radiation or in fission

d : the act of recording in a permanent file

data capture

motion capture

2 : one that has been taken (such as a prize ship)

See capture defined for English-language learners

See capture defined for kids

Examples of capture in a Sentence

the capture of the city by enemy forces
a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer

Recent Examples of capture from the Web

The Emiratis are arranging minesweepers, cranes and other equipment to repair the port after its capture.

— asa fitch, WSJ, "With Much at Stake in Yemen Port, Coalition Puts Advance on Hold," 8 July 2018
The Mossad chief said that the watch was worn by the spy until his capture.

— james rogers, Fox News, "Secret Israeli operation recovers watch that belonged to legendary 1960s spy executed in Syria," 6 July 2018
An elephant that survived capture by Cuban revolutionaries in the late 1950s, a highway wreck and a burning ship is getting a 70th birthday bash at her Tennessee wildlife sanctuary on Friday.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "She survived Castro, a crash and a burning ship. Now Shirley the elephant is turning 70," 5 July 2018
Director William Brown has also listened, which is why he and his cast capture all that’s not said, between Farquhar’s rambunctious lines.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Love and death in Spring Green: 'The Recruiting Officer,' 'Exit the King'," 3 July 2018
Then one day a slight relaxation in Will and Tom's near-constant vigilance leads to their capture.

— bill goodykoontz, azcentral, "'Leave No Trace' marked by brilliant performances from Ben Foster, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie," 28 June 2018
Its broad capture of the American judiciary is one of the great political feats of the modern era.

— jacob bacharach, The New Republic, "Don’t Count on History to Judge Wisely," 27 June 2018
The United States offered a $2 million reward for his capture.

— eliott c. mclaughlin, CNN, "Drug lord 'La Barbie' sentenced to 49 years in federal prison," 11 June 2018
Indeed, the second season ended with Wolfgang's capture by the evil BPO organization that hunts the sensates and the impending nuptials between Nomi, a transgender hacktivist, and her girlfriend, Amanita, put on the backburner.

— jackie strause, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Sense8' Boss Unpacks "Joyous" Series Finale," 10 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'capture.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of capture

Medieval French, from Latin captura, from captus — see ¹captive

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1542

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

capture Synonyms

Other Game Terms

bezique, carom, convention, crap, euchre, gambit, monte, parlay, tierce

capture

verb

Definition of capture

captured; capturing play \ˈkap-chə-riŋ, ˈkap-shriŋ\

transitive verb

1 a : to take captive; also : to gain control of especially by force

capture a city

b : to gain or win especially through effort

captured 60 percent of the vote

2 a : to emphasize, represent, or preserve (something, such as a scene, mood, or quality) in a more or less permanent form

… at any such moment as a photograph might capture …
—C. E. Montague

b : to record in a permanent file (as in a computer)

The system is used to capture data relating to the buying habits of young people.

3 : to captivate and hold the interest of

The performer captured our attention.

4 : to take according to the rules of a game

A knight captured his pawn.

5 : to bring about the capture of (a subatomic particle)

6 astronomy : to draw into the gravitational influence of a larger body

Asteroids were thought to be too small to capture a moon, but the moon might be a fragment that broke off.
—Kenneth Chang

—

capturable

play \ˈkap-chə-rə-bəl, -shrə-bəl\ adjective

See capture defined for English-language learners

Examples of capture in a Sentence

They were captured by enemy soldiers.
using traps to capture mice
The city was captured by the Romans.
She captured 60 percent of the vote in the last election.
The company plans on capturing a larger segment of the market.
The show has captured the attention of teenagers.

Recent Examples of capture from the Web

Researchers running the scientific instrument and communications satellite called Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of an ancient lakebed on the red planet, in the region called Eridania basin.

— shannon stirone, WIRED, "Space Photos of the Week: Mars Has Spiders in the Springtime," 14 July 2018
While there Caputo captured local kids who were members of the underground rave scene, including one epic beach party that began at 2 p.m. and lasted well into the next morning.

— aubri juhasz, The Cut, "Burberry’s Latest Collab Is Full of Cool Kids in Rainbow Check," 13 July 2018
Weathers and Monnich have captured exactly that at their Stove & Tap, the multi-floor American bistro and bar that’s become a lively anchor of Lansdale’s resurgence.

— craig laban, Philly.com, "The Bercy adds French brasserie sheen to thriving Ardmore scene," 13 July 2018
In the shale play, big data is capturing and applying information in real time.

— Houston Chronicle, "Competition for top talent keeps pay scale high in oil industry," 13 July 2018
Wildlife trapper Bob Cross captured the snake, identified it as a boa constrictor and suffered a bite — but the critter wasn’t venomous.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "WKMG anchor spots snake, gets results," 13 July 2018
Located, fittingly, near the University of North Carolina campus, this restaurant captured top honors for its big juicy burgers and rosemary fries. 2.

— chris morris, Fortune, "This Is Where You Can Find the Best Hamburger in the U.S., According to TripAdvisor," 12 July 2018
But fans in the stands captured the moment (in which Rashford was in an offside position to receive Lingard's return pass directly off the restart before breaking forward).

— charlotte carroll, SI.com, "WATCH: England Tried to Score While Croatia Was Celebrating Go-Ahead Goal," 12 July 2018
Currently, the fund has captured $836,642 in revenues from increased property tax values on new development in the downtown allocation area since it was created, according to information provided by the town.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "Highland expected to tap funds for downtown street repairs," 12 July 2018

First Known Use of capture

1574

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

capture Synonyms

Synonyms

bag, catch, collar, cop [slang], corral, get, glom, grab, grapple, hook, land, nab, nail, net, rap, seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap;

Antonyms

miss;

Near Antonyms

discharge, free, liberate, release;

drop, loosen, unhand;

Related Words

glove, halter, lasso, rope;

apprehend, arrest, detain;

bay, corner;

clasp, clutch, fasten (on), fist, grasp, grip, hold, latch (on or onto), secure;

rend, wrest;

enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entangle, entrap, mesh;

abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off);

Phrases

take hold (of);

Synonym Discussion of capture

catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing. catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

- caught the dog as it ran by

capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

- capture an enemy stronghold

trap, snare, entrap, ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

- trap animals
- snared butterflies with a net

entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

- entrapped the witness with a trick question
- a sting operation that ensnared burglars

bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

- bagged a brace of pheasants

CAPTURE Defined for English Language Learners

capture

noun

Definition of capture for English Language Learners

: the act of taking and holding someone as a prisoner or of being taken as a prisoner
: the act of getting control of something
: the act of putting information in a form that a computer can use or read

capture

verb

Definition of capture for English Language Learners

: to take and hold (someone) as a prisoner especially by using force
: to catch (an animal)
: to get control of (a place) especially by using force

CAPTURE Defined for Kids

capture

verb cap·ture \ ˈkap-chər \

Definition of capture for Students

captured; capturing

1 : to take and hold especially by force

The eagle captured its prey.

2 : to win or get through effort

The candidate captured more than half the vote.

3 : to get and hold

The seaweed strewn about … had captured her attention.
—Kevin Henkes, Olive's Ocean

4 : to put into a lasting form

She captured the scene in a photo.

Word Root of capture

The Latin word capere, meaning “to seize” or “to take,” and its form captus give us the roots cap, capt, and cept. Words from the Latin capere have something to do with taking. To capture is to take something or someone by using force. To accept is to take something willingly. Anyone capable of doing something is able to take on that task.