capture

1 of 2

noun

cap·​ture ˈkap-chər 

-shər

plural captures

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

The criminals avoided/eluded/escaped capture.

… authorities increased the reward for information leading to his capture …

—Rachel Schilke

b

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

In the original game of checkers, capture was optional, as it is in modern chess.

—Jack Botermans et al.

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

e

: any of various methods of removing a substance from something (such as emissions produced by an industrial process) to reduce its presence in the atmosphere

especially : carbon capture sense 1

Coal-fired plants operating in 2040 and beyond would have to use carbon capture and storage technology with 90% capture of carbon.

—Mike Tony

… mercury capture in incinerator flue gas can be carried out … with high removal efficiencies …

—Fabrizio Scala

2

: someone or something that is taken or captured (such as a war prize)

capture

2 of 2

verb

captured; capturing ˈkap-chə-riŋ 

ˈkap-shriŋ

; captures

transitive verb

1

a

: to take and hold (someone or something) as a captive or prisoner

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

ˈkap-chə-rə-bəl 

-shrə-bəl

adjective

Synonyms

Noun

• captive
• internee
• prisoner

Verb

• acquire
• attain
• bag
• bring in
• carry
• come by
• draw
• earn
• gain
• garner
• get
• knock down
• land
• make
• obtain
• procure
• pull down
• realize
• reap
• secure
• win

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of capture in a Sentence

Noun

the capture of the city by enemy forces

a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer

Verb

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 on the Web

Noun

While her mother—who ran a tortilla business in Ensenada—planted vines back in 2007, Santiago studied enology in Australia and fell for biodynamic farming; at Mina Penélope, water canals capture and redirect water, and Santiago rebuilds and replenishes soil through composting and cover crops. —Anya Von Bremzen, AFAR Media, 8 May 2025

White’s mother, Carla White, who had worked for the county probation department for nearly two decades, was sentenced last month to one year in jail for helping her son evade capture while law enforcement sought him for Medina’s killing. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025

Verb

The attack left about 1,200 people dead, and militants captured Alexander and some 250 others to hold hostage. 'Greatest gift': Family of NJ's Edan Alexander heads to Israel as Hamas agrees to release How many hostages remain in Gaza? —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 13 May 2025

Each mirror panel captures the body mid-process—being measured, considered, and eventually fortified. —Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 12 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, from Latin captura, from captus — see captive entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing capture

• capture/catch someone's imagination
• capture someone's imagination
• capture the flag
• carbon capture
• carbon capture and storage
• catch/capture lightning in a bottle
• evade capture/arrest
• motion capture
• win/steal/capture one's heart

Rhymes for capture

• rapture
• recapture

Kids Definition

capture

1 of 2 noun

cap·​ture ˈkap-chər 

-shər

1

: the act of catching or gaining control by force or trickery

2

: something or someone captured

capture

2 of 2 verb

captured; capturing ˈkap-chə-riŋ 

ˈkap-shriŋ

1

a

: to take and hold especially by force

capture a city

b

: to gain or win as if by force

captured first prize

2

: preserve entry 1 sense 1

captured her smile on film

Etymology

Noun

from early French capture "capture," from Latin captura (same meaning), from captus "taken (as a prisoner)," from capere "to take" — related to accept, catch, receive