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capture

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noun

as in prisoner
one that has been taken and held in confinement a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb capture contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of capture are bag, catch, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

In what contexts can bag take the place of capture?

In some situations, the words bag and capture are roughly equivalent. However, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is catch a more appropriate choice than capture?

The words catch and capture are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

How do entrap and ensnare relate to one another, in the sense of capture?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

How is trap related to other words for capture?

Trap, snare, entrap, and ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. Trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals
snared butterflies with a net

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of capture
Verb
Up against a $150 million stadium proposal in Cleveland and the backing of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark in Cincinnati, Denver quietly captured the interest of NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman with its confidence and deep pockets. Emily Olsen, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025 The song captures both melancholy and resilience, reflecting Knowles’ mastery of storytelling through song. Spin Contributor, SPIN, 4 Feb. 2025
Noun
Migrants who elude capture walk as long as two days in the wilderness before arriving at smugglers’ vehicles. Eugene Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025 The selfie camera and video capture features also remain unchanged year over year. PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for capture 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capture
Verb
  • Biden’s aides also deserve credit for working closely with Trump’s team to win a cease-fire in Gaza during the administration’s waning days.
    Andrew Exum, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Another ticket sold in Texas matched four numbers drawn plus the Powerball to win $150,000 with the Power Play multiplier.
    Don Sweeney, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Junior forward Lawrence Sallis also grabbed 13 rebounds for the Royals.
    Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
  • The witness jumped in to assist and grab the knife, cutting himself in the process.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The announcement comes after a meeting in Caracas between Maduro and Trump envoy Richard Grenell, after which the socialist government released six American prisoners.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Antonio Maria Delgado and Verónica Egui Brito Miami Herald (TNS), arkansasonline.com, 2 Feb. 2025
  • In exchange, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners, of whom 18 were serving life sentences.
    Andrew Torgan, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Pike, who died of Cancer in 2019, earned notoriety in the early 1980s after establishing the Pikes Hotel in Ibiza.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025
  • The founder earned a reputation for stirring up controversy and pushing fashion ideas to the extreme, as in his use of oversized silhouettes and his iconoclastic runway presentations.
    Miles Socha, WWD, 29 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • My other friends would teach me how to throw and catch that once-strange oblong object.
    Peter Ji, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Local water managers say they were caught off-guard by the decision when they were informed just a day before the water started flowing.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The drug has gained popularity in and out of Hollywood over the last few years as many people turn to it for weight loss, even when not medically necessary.
    Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Oil giant Shell meanwhile saw shares gain almost 3% after posting a significant drop in annual profit following a year of lower crude prices.
    Ryan Browne,Jenni Reid,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • When Yardley submitted the manuscript to Macmillan in February 1933, a U.S. marshal seized and impounded it under the Espionage Act of 1917, which prohibited taking secret documents.
    Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
  • When the bride steps away, other women can seize the moment to give the groom a friendly peck.
    Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • JPMorgan's profit rose to a record high in 2024 as its dealmakers and traders reaped a windfall from rebounding markets in the fourth quarter.
    Pritam Biswas and Nupur Anand, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Several semiconductor makers should reap the biggest rewards from President Donald Trump’s Stargate artificial intelligence initiative, tech analysts say.
    Samantha Subin, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near capture

Cite this Entry

“Capture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capture. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on capture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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