seize on/upon
phrasal verb
seized on/upon; seizing on/upon; seizes on/upon
: to take or use (something, such as a chance or opportunity) in a quick and eager way
His critics have seized on the scandal to call for his resignation.
She seized on the opportunity to tell her side of the story.
Examples of seize on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Democrats have sought to seize on the political division and are pushing a petition that would force a binding floor vote.
—
Miriam Waldvogel, The Hill, 21 July 2025
While Trump did not seize on the Sumy attack as an opening to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Russia, other corners of his administration and some of his political allies were more outspoken in the aftermath.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2025
While the tanks roll down Constitution Avenue and the legal battle proceeds, the real-world risk is that Trump will seize on the threat of being thwarted by the judiciary once again to take the far more consequential step of invoking the Insurrection Act.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
One way to do this is to seize on encouraging signs of hope and drive up a sense of positivity.
—Jo Causon, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for seize on/upon
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Miriam Waldvogel, The Hill, 21 July 2025
While Trump did not seize on the Sumy attack as an opening to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Russia, other corners of his administration and some of his political allies were more outspoken in the aftermath.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2025
While the tanks roll down Constitution Avenue and the legal battle proceeds, the real-world risk is that Trump will seize on the threat of being thwarted by the judiciary once again to take the far more consequential step of invoking the Insurrection Act.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
One way to do this is to seize on encouraging signs of hope and drive up a sense of positivity.
—Jo Causon, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for seize on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Seize on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seize%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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