What does "hijack" mean?
An instance of hijacking; the illegal seizure of a vehicle; a hijacking.
Hijack
noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An instance of hijacking; the illegal seizure of a vehicle; a hijacking.
- Grammar: hijack is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: air piracy, appropriate, blackjack, bludgeon.
- Useful contrasts: allow, compliance, permit.
- Usage evidence: Investigators foiled a plot to hijack an airplane.
How to use "hijack"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hijack" 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 "hijack" 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 "hijack" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hijack" 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 "hijack" is acting as noun, verb, slang 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 "air piracy" 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 "hijack", 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 instance of hijacking; the illegal seizure of a vehicle; a hijacking.
- 2 seizure of a vehicle in transit either to rob it or divert it to an alternate destination wordnet
- 3 An instance of a seizure and redirection of a process.
"I opened my closet door and stared. Should I pack my good suit and black loafers? Uh-uh. Travel light. Think positive. Go there, get done whatever there was to do, and get back. I loved Lolly, but I couldn't let her stroke hijack my life. How many guys would do this much for their aunt?"
- 4 An amendment which deletes the contents of a bill and inserts entirely new provisions.
- 5 Preflop, the position two before the dealer. slang
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A highwayman, robber. obsolete
"One lone "high-jack" held up 11 harvest hands in a freight car [...] last night, making a clean getaway with slightly over $180."
Verb
- 1 To forcibly seize control of some vehicle in order to rob it or to reach a destination (especially an airplane, truck or a boat).
- 2 take arbitrarily or by force wordnet
- 3 To seize control of some process or resource to achieve a purpose other than its originally intended one.
"hijack the radio show"
- 4 seize control of wordnet
- 5 To introduce an amendment deleting the contents of a bill and inserting entirely new provisions.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Investigators foiled a plot to hijack an airplane."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hijack"?
Common synonyms include: air piracy, appropriate, blackjack, bludgeon, bulldoze, bully.
How do you use "hijack" in a sentence?
Investigators foiled a plot to hijack an airplane.
Etymology
Possibly from a blend of highway + jacker (“one who holds up”) (1915).