Hijack - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Hijack means to illegally seize control of a vehicle, especially an aircraft, or to take over something by force or unauthorized means. It can also refer to stealing goods in transit.
Definition:
Illegally seize control of a vehicle, especially an aircraft, often by force or threat.
Synonyms:
commandeer, seize, take over, skyjack
Part of Speech:
verb, noun
Antonyms:
surrender, release
Common Collocations:
hijack a plane, hijack a truck, hijack a meeting
Derivatives:
hijacker, hijacking
Usage Tips:
Use "hijack" for unlawful takeovers of vehicles or figurative contexts like meetings; avoid casual misuse.
Common Phrases:
hijack the conversation, hijack the agenda, plane hijacking
Etymology:
Originated in 1920s from "highway" + "jack," referring to robberies before shifting to aviation contexts.
Examples:
- 1. The thieves tried to hijack the delivery truck on the highway.
- 2. Terrorists attempted to hijack the plane mid-flight but were stopped by security.
- 3. He always tries to hijack our meetings with unrelated topics.
- 4. The hackers managed to hijack the company's website for hours.