seize up
phrasal verb
seized up; seizing up; seizes up
: to stop working because the moving parts can no longer move
The engine/brakes suddenly seized up.
—sometimes used figurativelyHer brain seized up when she tried to answer the question.
Examples of seize up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As the logic of this new era of salary cap growth worked its way through the NHL, however, the marketplace was seized up by a talent crunch.
—
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Elston should be the gateway to Lincoln Yards, but when a popular band is performing at the Salt Shed between Division Street and North Avenue, Elston seizes up.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
In the latest instance, the primary roll thrusters have built up so much residue in their fuel lines that it's feared that the whole system could seize up in a few months.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 18 May 2025
Your money can become temporarily or permanently inaccessible, payment systems can seize up, and the real economy can be brought to a halt.
—Jon Helgi Egilsson, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
As staffers stream out onto the street, file boxes in hand, expense accounts disappear overnight, and the economy of the city seizes up.
—New York Times, 7 May 2025
Increasing the window means higher risk of muscles seizing up as well.
—Ashley Mahoney, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
After the onset of the Depression in 1929, as international financial markets progressively seized up, bankers stopped lending to Germany and the United Kingdom.
—Liaquat Ahamed, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2011
After her teammates mobbed her in celebration, Rodman stepped away and grabbed her lower back, pretending to seize up with pain — only to stand up tall and laugh while flipping her pink hair over both shoulders.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
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Thomas Drance, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Elston should be the gateway to Lincoln Yards, but when a popular band is performing at the Salt Shed between Division Street and North Avenue, Elston seizes up.
—F.k. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
In the latest instance, the primary roll thrusters have built up so much residue in their fuel lines that it's feared that the whole system could seize up in a few months.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 18 May 2025
Your money can become temporarily or permanently inaccessible, payment systems can seize up, and the real economy can be brought to a halt.
—Jon Helgi Egilsson, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
As staffers stream out onto the street, file boxes in hand, expense accounts disappear overnight, and the economy of the city seizes up.
—New York Times, 7 May 2025
Increasing the window means higher risk of muscles seizing up as well.
—Ashley Mahoney, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
After the onset of the Depression in 1929, as international financial markets progressively seized up, bankers stopped lending to Germany and the United Kingdom.
—Liaquat Ahamed, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2011
After her teammates mobbed her in celebration, Rodman stepped away and grabbed her lower back, pretending to seize up with pain — only to stand up tall and laugh while flipping her pink hair over both shoulders.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Seize up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seize%20up. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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