What does "capture" mean?
An act of capturing; a seizing by force or stratagem.
Capture
/ˈkæp.ʃə/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act of capturing; a seizing by force or stratagem.
- Grammar: capture is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: get, seize, seizure, abduct.
- Useful contrasts: delete, deletion, eluding.
- Usage evidence: The capture of the prince by the king led to another war.
How to use "capture"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "capture" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "capture" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "capture" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "capture" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "capture" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "get" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "capture", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An act of capturing; a seizing by force or stratagem. countable, uncountable
"even with regard to captures made at sea"
- 2 the act of forcibly dispossessing an owner of property wordnet
- 3 The securing of an object of strife or desire, as by the power of some attraction. countable, uncountable
"the capture of a lover’s heart"
- 4 the removal of an opponent's piece from the chess board wordnet
- 5 Something that has been captured; a captive. countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 the act of taking of a person by force wordnet
- 7 The recording or storage of something for later playback. countable, uncountable
"video capture"
- 8 any process in which an atomic or nuclear system acquires an additional particle wordnet
- 9 A particular match found for a pattern in a text string. countable, uncountable
"After the match […], the text matched within the named capture is available via the Match object's Groups(name) property."
- 10 a process whereby a star or planet holds an object in its gravitational field wordnet
Verb
- 1 To take control of; to seize by force or stratagem. transitive
"to capture an enemy, a vessel, or a criminal"
- 2 succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase wordnet
- 3 To take hold of. figuratively, transitive
"The paintings in the gallery really captured my imagination."
- 4 capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping wordnet
- 5 To store (as in sounds or image) for later revisitation. transitive
"She captured the sounds of a subway station on tape."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 succeed in representing or expressing something intangible wordnet
- 7 To reproduce convincingly. transitive
"His film adaptation captured the spirit of the original work."
- 8 attract; cause to be enamored wordnet
- 9 To remove or take control of an opponent’s piece in a game (e.g., chess, go, checkers). transitive
"My pawn was captured."
- 10 take possession of by force, as after an invasion wordnet
- 11 bring about the capture of an elementary particle or celestial body and causing it enter a new orbit wordnet
Example
"The capture of the prince by the king led to another war."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "capture"?
Common synonyms include: get, seize, seizure, abduct, abduction, acquire.
How do you use "capture" in a sentence?
The capture of the prince by the king led to another war.
How do you pronounce "capture"?
Pronounced /ˈkæp.ʃə/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French capture (noun), from Latin captūra. Displaced native Old English fenġ (noun) and ġefōn (verb).