capture 1 of 2

verb

Definition of capturenext
1
as in to win
to receive as return for effort the movie's producers captured several awards for their work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly captured the cat just as it was about to escape out the front door

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

capture

2 of 2

noun

ˈkap-chər How to pronounce capture (audio)
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
Here’s my list of all seven major pathways getting us from contemporary AI to the treasured AGI: (1) Linear path (slow-and-steady): This AGI path captures the gradualist view, whereby AI advancement accumulates a step at a time via scaling, engineering, and iteration, ultimately arriving at AGI. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 The models won't capture exactly how tariffs will affect consumers. —Courtney Reagan, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Noun
Officials said tips from the public led to the capture of three of the escapees. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 29 May 2025 Romano didn’t quote any figures for the potential capture, but Defensa Central, citing anonymous sources, reported that Madrid will offer a maximum of $34 million (€30 million) for the full back’s services. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for capture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capture
  1. win
  2. grab
  3. prisoner
  4. earn
  5. catch
  6. gain
  7. seize
  8. reap
Verb
  • The Spaniard won 14 of his 22 major titles at Roland Garros.
    — Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • With Tiller on board, his OTE team actually won the league crown two years in a row.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2025
Definition of win
Verb
  • Appeal To All Five Senses People still like going out, meeting others and grabbing coffee.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Scott grabbed some pizza and returned to park her Subaru near the West Shore Market to wait for Serafini.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of grab
Noun
  • The flintlock pistol that Torres is given by the Yautja to fight his fellow prisoners is known by Predator fans as the Raphael Adolini 1715 pistol for an engraved plate that says just that.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 June 2025
  • This is not a story that labors to earn its prisoners their humanity.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 June 2025
Definition of prisoner
Verb
  • It is earned—through trust, through transparency, and through service.
    — Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The Pinocchio actress ended the number back on stage with a full gospel choir backing her up, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Definition of earn
Verb
  • Fans lined up early and made signs to catch a glimpse of the future star.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2025
  • On his Instagram Stories, Brady gave fans a glimpse into the father-son duo's time on the water, alongside a selfie of them catching some rays.
    — Hannah Sacks, People.com, 4 June 2025
Definition of catch
Verb
  • The wider crypto sector has also been gaining political traction in the U.S. Legislators are promoting laws that seek regulatory clarity, and the Trump Administration has also shown support for cryptocurrencies.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • In the moments leading up to the crash, air traffic control can be heard telling the pilot to gain altitude quickly and the pilot struggling to do so, according to recordings captured by LiveATC.net.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Definition of gain
Verb
  • Flores, a 70-year-old retired welder, had illegally seized a home five years ago after its owner, the California Department of Transportation, had left it vacant.
    — Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
  • This harmonious and uplifting transit encourages you to take bold steps toward your desires and seize opportunities that come your way.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of seize
Verb
  • Donors would be the ones to reap the tax benefits, though.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
  • Or will the developers of AI reap all of the rewards?
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of reap

Browse Nearby Words

captors
capture
captured
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Capture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capture. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on capture

Nglish: Translation of capture for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All