seize up

phrasal verb

seized up; seizing up; seizes up
: to stop working because the moving parts can no longer move
The engine/brakes suddenly seized up.
sometimes used figuratively
Her brain seized up when she tried to answer the question.

Examples of seize up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Increasing the window means higher risk of muscles seizing up as well. Ashley Mahoney, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025 After the onset of the Depression in 1929, as international financial markets progressively seized up, bankers stopped lending to Germany and the United Kingdom. Liaquat Ahamed, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2011 After her teammates mobbed her in celebration, Rodman stepped away and grabbed her lower back, pretending to seize up with pain — only to stand up tall and laugh while flipping her pink hair over both shoulders. Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025 Without a court order, the federal government can seize up to 15% of a defaulted borrower's paycheck via administrative wage garnishment. Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Faithfull moved to New York after the release of 1981’s Dangerous Acquaintances, and, while still suffering from addiction, had a disastrous appearance on Saturday Night Live in which her vocal cords seized up. Roy Trakin, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025 Last term, a 7-2 Supreme Court rejected a Fifth Circuit decision that could have seized up the entire US mortgage industry and caused an economic depression in the process. Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 The crisis showed that by basing its growth on exports, China had laid itself open to a sharp reversal if foreign markets seized up. Sebastian Mallaby, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2011 The Power Of Connected Manufacturing In today’s manufacturing plants, when a motor seizes up, the assembly line comes to a halt. Chris Turlica, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seize up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seize%20up. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!