Capture vs. Seize — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
Capture implies taking control or possession after a pursuit or effort, while seize often denotes grabbing or taking hold suddenly and forcibly.
Difference Between Capture and Seize
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Capture involves the process of taking control of something, often after a chase or effort, highlighting the strategy or planning behind the act. It can refer to both physical and metaphorical acts, such as capturing a fortress or capturing an audience's attention. On the other hand, seize typically suggests a more sudden or forceful action, emphasizing the immediacy and sometimes the aggression of the act, like seizing an opportunity or forcibly taking control of a vehicle.
While both terms can be used in contexts of gaining control or possession, capture often carries a nuance of overcoming obstacles or employing tactics to secure something. For instance, in a military context, capturing a city involves not just the moment of victory but also the preceding efforts and strategies. Seize, however, focuses more on the act of taking possession itself, often quickly and without warning, such as seizing assets during a legal action.
In legal and official language, seize is commonly used to describe the act of taking possession by authority or force, such as police seizing contraband. Capture, in these contexts, might be used more broadly, including the process leading up to the seizure or the broader implications of taking control of something, like capturing a criminal network’s operations.
The emotional connotations of each word also differ; capture can evoke a sense of achievement or success following a pursuit, while seize often implies urgency and decisiveness. For example, capturing a photograph suggests waiting for the perfect moment, whereas seizing a moment suggests acting quickly before the opportunity passes.
In the context of opportunities or moments, to capture something implies a degree of preservation or holding onto, such as capturing a memory through photography, whereas to seize something emphasizes taking immediate advantage of the opportunity without necessarily implying long-term possession.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Strategy, effort, and overcoming obstacles
Suddenness, force, and immediacy
Usage Context
Broad, including physical and metaphorical
Often implies physical or authoritative action
Emotional Tone
Achievement, success
Urgency, decisiveness
Legal/Official
Broader use, including process and outcome
Specific act of taking possession by force or authority
Focus
The process and result of taking control
The act of taking hold or possession itself
Compare with Definitions
Capture
To record or preserve moments.
The filmmaker captured the essence of urban life in his documentary.
Seize
To take advantage of something eagerly.
She seized the opportunity to travel abroad.
Capture
To accurately represent or express.
The novel captures the complexities of adolescence.
Seize
To confiscate by legal authority.
The government seized assets linked to the fraud case.
Capture
To win or secure something.
The team captured the championship after a season of hard work.
Seize
To affect or overwhelm suddenly.
Panic seized the crowd as the alarms sounded.
Capture
To arrest or take into custody.
The fugitive was captured in a coordinated police operation.
Seize
To take hold of suddenly and forcibly.
The officer seized the weapon from the suspect.
Capture
To take control of something through effort or strategy.
The photographer aimed to capture the beauty of the sunrise.
Seize
To grasp or understand suddenly.
He seized the solution to the problem after hours of thought.
Capture
Take into one's possession or control by force
The island was captured by Australian forces in 1914
Seize
Take hold of suddenly and forcibly
He seized hold of the door handle
She jumped up and seized his arm
Capture
Record accurately in words or pictures
She did a series of sketches, trying to capture all his moods
Seize
Take (an opportunity) eagerly and decisively
He seized his chance to attack as Carr hesitated
Capture
Cause (data) to be stored in a computer
These allow users to capture, edit, and display geographic data
Seize
(of a feeling or pain) affect (someone) suddenly or acutely
He was seized by the most dreadful fear
Capture
Absorb (an atomic or subatomic particle)
The free electrons were moving too rapidly to be captured by nuclei
Seize
Strongly appeal to or attract (the imagination or attention)
The story of the king's escape seized the public imagination
Capture
(of a stream) divert the upper course of (another stream) by encroaching on its catchment area.
Seize
(of a machine with moving parts) become jammed
The engine seized up after only three weeks
Capture
The action of capturing or of being captured
He was killed while resisting capture
The capture of the city
Seize
Be in legal possession of
The court is currently seized of custody applications
Capture
To take captive, as by force or craft; seize.
Seize
To grasp suddenly and forcibly; take or grab
Seize a sword.
Capture
To gain possession or control of, as in a game or contest
Capture the queen in chess.
Captured the liberal vote.
Seize
To take by force; capture or conquer
The kidnappers seized the prince. The invaders seized the city.
Capture
To attract and hold
Tales of adventure that capture the imagination.
Seize
To take quick and forcible possession of; confiscate
The police seized a cache of illegal drugs.
Capture
(Astronomy) To attract and pull (a celestial body) into orbit by gravitation.
Seize
To focus the attention or intellect on
Seize an idea and develop it to the fullest extent.
Capture
To succeed in preserving in lasting form
Capture a likeness in a painting.
Seize
To make use of (an opportunity, for example).
Capture
The act of catching, taking, or winning, as by force or skill.
Seize
To have a sudden overwhelming effect on
A heinous crime that seized the minds and emotions of the populace.
Capture
One that has been seized, caught, or won; a catch or prize.
Seize
To overwhelm physically
A person who was seized with a terminal disease.
Capture
(Astronomy) The process by which a massive body, such as a star or planet, draws and holds another body in gravitational orbit.
Seize
Also seise (sēz) Law To cause (someone) to be in possession of something.
Capture
(Physics) The phenomenon in which an atom or a nucleus absorbs a subatomic particle, often with the subsequent emission of radiation.
Seize
(Nautical) To bind (a rope) to another, or to a spar, with turns of small line.
Capture
An act of capturing; a seizing by force or stratagem.
Seize
To lay sudden or forcible hold of something.
Capture
The securing of an object of strife or desire, as by the power of some attraction.
The capture of a lover's heart
Seize
To cohere or fuse with another part as a result of high pressure or temperature and restrict or prevent further motion or flow.
Capture
Something that has been captured; a captive.
Seize
To come to a halt
The talks seized up and were rescheduled.
Capture
The recording or storage of something for later playback.
Video capture
Seize
To exhibit signs of seizure activity, often with convulsions.
Capture
(computing) A particular match found for a pattern in a text string.
Seize
(transitive) To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
Capture
(transitive) To take control of; to seize by force or stratagem.
To capture an enemy, a vessel, or a criminal
Seize
(transitive) To take advantage of (an opportunity or circumstance).
Capture
(transitive) To store (as in sounds or image) for later revisitation.
She captured the sounds of a subway station on tape.
She captured the details of the fresco in a series of photographs.
Seize
(transitive) To take possession of (by force, law etc.).
To seize smuggled goods
To seize a ship after libeling
Capture
(transitive) To reproduce convincingly.
His film adaptation captured the spirit of the original work.
In her latest masterpiece, she captured the essence of Venice.
Seize
(transitive) To have a sudden and powerful effect upon.
A panic seized the crowd
A fever seized him
Capture
(transitive) To remove or take control of an opponent’s piece in a game (e.g., chess, go, checkers).
My pawn was captured.
He captured his opponent’s queen on the 15th move.
Seize
To bind, lash or make fast, with several turns of small rope, cord, or small line.
To seize two fish-hooks back to back
To seize or stop one rope on to another
Capture
The act of seizing by force, or getting possession of by superior power or by stratagem; as, the capture of an enemy, a vessel, or a criminal.
Even with regard to captures made at sea.
Seize
To fasten, fix.
Capture
The securing of an object of strife or desire, as by the power of some attraction.
Seize
(intransitive) To lay hold in seizure, by hands or claws (+ on or upon).
To seize on the neck of a horse
Capture
The thing taken by force, surprise, or stratagem; a prize; prey.
Seize
(intransitive) To have a seizure.
Capture
To seize or take possession of by force, surprise, or stratagem; to overcome and hold; to secure by effort.
Seize
(intransitive) To bind or lock in position immovably; see also seize up.
Rust caused the engine to seize, never to run again.
Capture
To record or make a lasting representation of (sound or images); as, to capture an event on videotape; the artist captured the expression of grief on his face.
Seize
To submit for consideration to a deliberative body.
Capture
To take control of, or remove from play; as, to capture a piece in chess.
Seize
(law) (with of) To cause (an action or matter) to be or remain before (a certain judge or court).
This Court will remain seized of this matter.
Capture
To exert a strong psychological influence on; as, to capture the heart of a maiden; to capture the attention of the nation.
Seize
Of chocolate: to change suddenly from a fluid to an undesirably hard and gritty texture.
Capture
To record (data) in a computer-readable form; as, to capture a transaction in a database.
Her heart is like some fortress that has been captured.
Seize
To fall or rush upon suddenly and lay hold of; to gripe or grasp suddenly; to reach and grasp.
For by no means the high bank he could seize.
Seek you to seize and gripe into your handsThe royalties and rights of banished Hereford?
Capture
The act of forcibly dispossessing an owner of property
Seize
To take possession of by force.
At last they seizeThe scepter, and regard not David's sons.
Capture
A process whereby a star or planet holds an object in its gravitational field
Seize
To invade suddenly; to take sudden hold of; to come upon suddenly; as, a fever seizes a patient.
Hope and deubt alternate seize her seul.
Capture
Any process in which an atomic or nuclear system acquires an additional particle
Seize
To take possession of by virtue of a warrant or other legal authority; as, the sheriff seized the debtor's goods.
Capture
The act of taking of a person by force
Seize
To fasten; to fix.
As when a bear hath seized her cruel clawsUpon the carcass of some beast too weak.
Capture
The removal of an opponent's piece from the chess board
Seize
To grap with the mind; to comprehend fully and distinctly; as, to seize an idea.
Capture
Succeed in representing or expressing something intangible;
Capture the essence of Spring
Capture an idea
Seize
To bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff, as yarn or marline; as, to seize ropes.
Capture
Attract; cause to be enamored;
She captured all the men's hearts
Seize
Take hold of; grab;
The salesclerk quickly seized the money on the counter
She clutched her purse
The mother seized her child by the arm
Birds of prey often seize small mammals
Capture
Succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase;
We finally got the suspect
Did you catch the thief?
Seize
Take or capture by force;
The terrorists seized the politicians
The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages
Capture
Bring about the capture of an elementary particle or celestial body and causing it enter a new orbit;
This nucleus has captured the slow-moving neutrons
The star captured a comet
Seize
Take possession of by force, as after an invasion;
The invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants
The army seized the town
The militia captured the castle
Capture
Take possession of by force, as after an invasion;
The invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants
The army seized the town
The militia captured the castle
Seize
Take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority;
The FBI seized the drugs
The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment
The police confiscated the stolen artwork
Capture
Capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping;
I caught a rabbit in the trap toady
Seize
Seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession;
He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town
He usurped my rights
She seized control of the throne after her husband died
Seize
Hook by a pull on the line;
Strike a fish
Seize
Affect;
Fear seized the prisoners
The patient was seized with unberable pains
He was seized with a dreadful disease
Seize
Capture the attention or imagination of;
This story will grab you
The movie seized my imagination
Common Curiosities
Can the terms capture and seize be used interchangeably?
While there are contexts where they might overlap, their nuances often make them not directly interchangeable, as seize implies more immediacy and force.
What is the difference between capturing a moment and seizing a moment?
Capturing a moment implies recording or preserving it, often for reflection, while seizing a moment emphasizes taking immediate action or advantage of an opportunity.
What does it mean to seize something?
To seize something means to grab or take hold of it suddenly and forcibly, often with authority or by taking advantage of an opportunity.
What strategies are commonly used to capture something effectively?
Strategies to capture something effectively often involve planning, patience, and sometimes technological assistance, such as using the right equipment to capture wildlife photography or employing tactical strategies in a game to secure a win.
What does it mean to capture something?
To capture something means taking control, possession, or accurately depicting an aspect through effort, strategy, or technology.
Can seize imply a positive action?
Yes, seizing can have a positive connotation, especially when it involves taking swift action to capitalize on opportunities.
How do filmmakers and photographers capture emotions or moments?
Filmmakers and photographers capture emotions or moments by using techniques that include composition, lighting, and timing to evoke or record specific feelings or events, aiming to engage the viewer's senses and emotions deeply.
In what situations might seizing be considered inappropriate or unethical?
Seizing might be considered inappropriate or unethical in situations where it involves taking advantage of others without consent, violating privacy or legal boundaries, or acting impulsively in a way that disregards the consequences.
How does the legal system use the term seize?
In legal contexts, seize is used to describe the act of taking possession by force or authority, such as seizing assets during investigations.
Is capturing always physical?
No, capturing can also be metaphorical, such as capturing someone's heart or the essence of a concept through artistic expression.
Is seizing always associated with legality or authority?
While seizing is frequently associated with legal or authoritative actions, such as law enforcement seizing contraband, it can also refer to personal actions without legal implications, like seizing a fleeting chance.
Can the concepts of capture and seize apply to digital or online contexts?
Yes, in digital or online contexts, capture can refer to taking screenshots or recording content, while seize might involve taking control of digital opportunities, like seizing control of a market niche through innovative online strategies.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
