How to pronounce seize
Say it like SEEZ. Seize is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce seize. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEEZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Seize pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SEEZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of seize
American and British speakers say seize in essentially the same way: /siz/ in the US and /siːz/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEEZ.
What does seize mean?
- take hold of; grab“The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter”“She clutched her purse”
- take or capture by force“The terrorists seized the politicians”“The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages”
- take possession of by force, as after an invasion“the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants”“The army seized the town”
Where does seize come from?
Earlier seise, from Middle English seisen, sesen, saisen, from Old French seisir (“to take possession of; invest (person, court)”), from Early Medieval Latin sacīre (“to lay claim to, appropriate”) (8th century) in the phrase ad propriam sa
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with seize
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of seize.
Questions about saying seize
How do you pronounce seize?
Say SEEZ. The American pronunciation is /siz/. In British English it is /siːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in seize?
Seize is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SEEZ.
Do Americans and Brits say seize the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /siz/ and the British form is /siːz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.