impound
verb
im·pound
im-ˈpau̇nd 
impounded; impounding; impounds
1
a
: to shut up in or as if in a pound : confine
b
: to seize and hold in the custody of the law
c
: to take possession of
she was dismissed and her manuscript impounded—
Jonathan Weiner
Jonathan Weiner2
: to collect and confine (water) in or as if in a reservoir
Examples of impound in a Sentence
The police impounded her car because it was illegally parked.
impound evidence for a trial
Recent Examples on the Web
That was before Hoover Dam impounded the river and forever changed everything downstream.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2024
Malinowski was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail, and his vessel was impounded, police said.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024
Nixon wielded his monarchical power covertly—most notoriously during Watergate—and brazenly, claiming that Article II of the Constitution empowered him to impound funds already allocated by Congress and to conduct widespread, warrantless wiretaps.
—Duncan Hosie / Made By History, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024
Unpaid creditors would seek to impound the oil giant’s global assets: its tankers, refineries, shiploads of fuel, and other properties.
—Michael Shifter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2016
See all Example Sentences for impound 
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Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2024
Malinowski was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail, and his vessel was impounded, police said.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024
Nixon wielded his monarchical power covertly—most notoriously during Watergate—and brazenly, claiming that Article II of the Constitution empowered him to impound funds already allocated by Congress and to conduct widespread, warrantless wiretaps.
—Duncan Hosie / Made By History, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024
Unpaid creditors would seek to impound the oil giant’s global assets: its tankers, refineries, shiploads of fuel, and other properties.
—Michael Shifter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2016
See all Example Sentences for impound
Dictionary Entries Near impound
Cite this Entry
“Impound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impound. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impound
verb
im·pound
im-ˈpau̇nd
1
: to shut up in or as if in an enclosed place
2
: to seize and hold in the hands of the law
impound evidence for a trial
impoundment
noun
-ˈpau̇n(d)-mənt
Legal Definition
impound
transitive verb
im·pound
im-ˈpau̇nd
: to take control of in the custody of the law or by legal authority
impound a vehicle
the police impounded the dwelling until the search warrant was obtained
impoundment
noun
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