siege
8 synonyms for siege, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A prolonged military operation in which an army surrounds a city or fortress to force its surrender.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use siege
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
under siege
lay siege to
a siege mentality
lift the siege
Etymology
From Old French sege/siege ("seat"), ultimately from Latin sēdēs ("seat") — the sense shifted from "a sitting down" to "an army settling in to blockade a place".
Full origin of siege →Frequently asked questions
What does “siege” mean?
The word “siege” means a prolonged military operation in which an army surrounds a city or fortress to force its surrender. In plain terms, a sustained military blockade of a place, or by extension any prolonged ordeal.
How do you pronounce “siege”?
“Siege” is pronounced seej (/siːd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “siege” in a sentence?
Here is “siege” used in a sentence: “The city endured a siege lasting almost a year before it fell.”
What is another word for “siege”?
Words with a similar meaning to “siege” include bathroom.
What part of speech is “siege”?
Depending on how it is used, “siege” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “siege” come from?
The word “siege” comes from Latin. From Old French sege/siege ("seat"), ultimately from Latin sēdēs ("seat") — the sense shifted from "a sitting down" to "an army settling in to blockade a place".
Is “siege” a common word?
“Siege” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “siege” have?
“Siege” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a prolonged military operation in which an army surrounds a city or fortress to force its surrender.
What is the difference between a siege and a blockade?
A siege is a prolonged military operation in which an army surrounds a city or fortress to force its surrender, often combined with direct attack. A blockade focuses on cutting off supplies and access; it can be part of a siege but does not by itself aim to surround and capture a fortified place.
What is the difference between 'siege' and 'besiege'?
"Siege" is chiefly a noun naming the military operation, while "besiege" is the verb meaning to surround and blockade a place. In practice you lay a siege, but you besiege a city.
