Capture — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈkap-chər/ cap·ture

Meaning & Definition of Capture

Capture (noun)

  1. an act or instance of capturing
  2. an act of catching, winning, or gaining control by force, stratagem, or guile
  3. a move in a board game (such as chess or checkers) that gains an opponent's piece

Capture (verb)

  1. to take and hold (someone or something) as a captive or prisoner; also, to gain control of especially by force
  2. to gain or win especially through effort
  3. to emphasize, represent, or preserve (something, such as a scene, mood, or quality) in a more or less permanent form

Capture (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to receive as return for effort

    "the movie's producers captured several awards for their work"

    similar: acquire, attain, bag, bring in, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

  2. 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"

    similar: bag, catch, collar, cop (slang), corral, get, glom, grab, grapple, hook, land, nab, nail, net, nobble (British slang), rap, seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap, take hold (of)
    related: glove, halter, lasso, rope, apprehend, arrest, detain, bay, corner, clasp, clutch, fasten (on), fist, grasp, grip, hold, latch (on or onto), secure, rend, wrest, enmesh, ensnare, entangle, entrap, mesh, abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off)
    opposite: miss
    near: discharge, free, liberate, release, drop, loosen, unhand

Capture (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one that has been taken and held in confinement

    "a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer"

    similar: captive, internee, prisoner
    related: coprisoner, convict, jailbird, arrestee, abductee, kidnappee
    opposite: captor
    near: custodian, guard, guardian, jailer, keeper, marshal, warden, abductor, kidnapper

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Capture

The most common words with a similar meaning to Capture:

Slang: cop
British slang: nobble
acquire, attain, bag, bring in, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win, catch, collar, corral, glom, grab, grapple, hook, nab, nail, net, rap, seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap, take hold (of), captive

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Capture

Words with the opposite meaning of Capture:

forfeit, lose, miss, captor

Related Words for Capture

clear, gross, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake, glove, halter, lasso, rope, apprehend, arrest, detain, bay, corner, clasp, clutch, fasten (on)

Near Antonyms of Capture

accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield, discharge, free, liberate, release, drop, loosen, unhand, custodian, guard, guardian, jailer, keeper, marshal, warden, abductor, kidnapper

Word Forms of Capture

Inflections: captures, captured, capturing

Derived words: capturable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Capture

Middle French, from Latin captura, from captus see captive:1

First known use: circa 1542

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Capture

Words & Phrases Containing Capture

capture the flag, capture someone's imagination, carbon capture, carbon capture and storage, motion capture, capture/catch someone's imagination, catch/capture lightning in a bottle, evade capture/arrest

Frequently Asked Questions about Capture

What does "Capture" mean?

"Capture" means an act or instance of capturing. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: an act or instance of capturing. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Capture"?

Other words for "Capture" include acquire, attain, bag, bring in, carry, come by, draw and earn. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Capture" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Capture"?

There are 95 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Capture". Common alternatives include acquire, attain, bag, bring in, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain and garner.

What is the opposite of "Capture"?

Antonyms of "Capture" include forfeit, lose, miss and captor. Near antonyms include accord, give, grant and pay.

How do you use "Capture" in a sentence?

Examples of "Capture" in a sentence: "the movie's producers captured several awards for their work"; "captured the cat just as it was about to escape out the front door"; "a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer".

Is "Capture" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Capture" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Capture" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Capture" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Capture"?

"Capture" is pronounced /ˈkap-chər/ and divided into syllables as cap·ture.