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 figurativelyHer brain seized up when she tried to answer the question.
Examples of seize up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Seize up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seize%20up. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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