impound

verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

impounded; impounding; impounds

transitive verb

1

a

: to shut up in or as if in a pound : confine

b

: to seize and hold in the custody of the law

c

: to take possession of

she was dismissed and her manuscript impounded

—Jonathan Weiner

2

: to collect and confine (water) in or as if in a reservoir

Examples of impound in a Sentence

The police impounded her car because it was illegally parked.

impound evidence for a trial

Recent Examples on the Web

The changes expand the city’s authority to impound goods and equipment due to unsafe practices to force compliance. —Devan Patel, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025

In January 2022, Israeli police officers appeared with a tow truck to impound unregistered cars. —Ben Ehrenreich, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025

This is not unlike the excuse used by the Trump Administration to impound federal dollars required to be spent by Congress. —Sheldon Toubman, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2025

The letter cites the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the federal law that restricts the executive branch’s ability to impound any funds already appropriated by Congress. —Zack Budryk, The Hill, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for impound

• abound
• aground
• around
• astound
• background
• campground
• clothbound
• confound
• earthbound
• eastbound
• expound
• fairground

Kids Definition

impound

verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

1

: to shut up in or as if in an enclosed place

2

: to seize and hold in the hands of the law

impound evidence for a trial

impoundment

-ˈpau̇n(d)-mənt

noun

Legal Definition

impound

transitive verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

: to take control of in the custody of the law or by legal authority

impound a vehicle

the police impounded the dwelling until the search warrant was obtained

impoundment noun