immobilize
verb
im·mo·bi·lize
i-ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz 
immobilized; immobilizing; immobilizes
: to make immobile: such as
a
: to reduce or eliminate motion of (the body or a part) by mechanical means or by strict bed rest
b
: to prevent freedom of movement or effective use of
the planes were immobilized by bad weather
c
: to withhold (money or capital) from circulation
Synonyms
Examples of immobilize in a Sentence
Doctors immobilized her wrist by putting it in a cast.
I was immobilized by fear.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Port of Baltimore is a key economic engine, employing tens of thousands, but it is currently immobilized with debris littering the Patapsco River.
—
Bryan Mena, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
The spiders do this without securing or immobilizing the target with their silk, meaning that their venom must be super strong and super speedy, stunning the prey almost immediately.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024
Instead, the atoms are immobilized within fields of intense light created by laser beams, called optical tweezers.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
The jail began housing inmates in 1882, but was immobilized in the 1930s after some of them sustained some gruesome injuries.
—The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024
The responding officers immobilize out-of-control suspects, who appear to be going through a mental health crisis or were on drugs, without hurting their targets and de-escalate situations that in the past might have spiraled out of control and ended in deaths.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024
But just months before a pivotal election pitting them against the ruling Awami League, the immobilizing effect is clear.
—Mujib Mashal Atul Loke, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023
While a single hit in the right place may be enough, it often one or more strikes to immobilize a tank, typically by damaging the engine, followed by more to finish it off.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Black widows use their potent venom to immobilize their prey before wrapping it in silk and employing digestive enzymes to prepare their meal.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024
Bryan Mena, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
The spiders do this without securing or immobilizing the target with their silk, meaning that their venom must be super strong and super speedy, stunning the prey almost immediately.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024
Instead, the atoms are immobilized within fields of intense light created by laser beams, called optical tweezers.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
The jail began housing inmates in 1882, but was immobilized in the 1930s after some of them sustained some gruesome injuries.
—The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024
The responding officers immobilize out-of-control suspects, who appear to be going through a mental health crisis or were on drugs, without hurting their targets and de-escalate situations that in the past might have spiraled out of control and ended in deaths.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024
But just months before a pivotal election pitting them against the ruling Awami League, the immobilizing effect is clear.
—Mujib Mashal Atul Loke, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023
While a single hit in the right place may be enough, it often one or more strikes to immobilize a tank, typically by damaging the engine, followed by more to finish it off.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Black widows use their potent venom to immobilize their prey before wrapping it in silk and employing digestive enzymes to prepare their meal.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immobilize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near immobilize
Cite this Entry
“Immobilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immobilize. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
immobilize
verb
im·mo·bi·lize
im-ˈō-bə-ˌlīz
immobilized; immobilizing
: to fix in place : make immobile
Medical Definition
immobilize
transitive verb
im·mo·bi·lize
variants
also British immobilise
immobilized also British immobilised; immobilizing also British immobilising
: to make immobile
especially
: to fix (as a body part) so as to reduce or eliminate motion usually by means of a cast or splint, by strapping, or by strict bed rest
immobilizing a fractured bone by a cast and continuous traction
immobilize an injury
immobilize all patients with a suspected neck or spine injury
Legal Definition
immobilize
transitive verb
im·mo·bi·lize
i-ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz
immobilized; immobilizing
: to make immobile
specifically
: to turn (movable property) into immovable property (as by incorporating it into a building)
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