verb
Uncommon
intercept
ihn-tuh-SEHPT
Intercept (verb) means to stop or catch something before it reaches its destination. Example: “The goalkeeper intercepted the pass before it reached the striker.”
verb
1
To stop or catch something before it reaches its destination.
"The goalkeeper intercepted the pass before it reached the striker."
"Investigators intercepted the shipment at the border."
"A security guard intercepted the delivery driver before he reached the locked gate."
How to use intercept
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop something mid-way, before it gets where it was headed.
Common pairings
intercept a message
intercept the ball
intercept a shipment
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Word forms
- Plural
- intercepts
- Third person singular
- intercepts
- Past tense
- intercepted
- Archaic forms
- interceptest, interceptedst, intercepteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The goalkeeper _____ the pass before it reached the striker.
Etymology
From Latin interceptum, past participle of intercipere, "to take between" (inter-, "between" + capere, "to take, seize").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “intercept” mean?
The word “intercept” means to stop or catch something before it reaches its destination. In plain terms, to stop something mid-way, before it gets where it was headed.
How do you pronounce “intercept”?
“Intercept” is pronounced ihn-tuh-SEHPT (/ɪntɚˈsɛpt/ in IPA).
How do you use “intercept” in a sentence?
Here is “intercept” used in a sentence: “The goalkeeper intercepted the pass before it reached the striker.”
What part of speech is “intercept”?
“Intercept” is a verb.
Where does the word “intercept” come from?
The word “intercept” comes from Latin. From Latin interceptum, past participle of intercipere, "to take between" (inter-, "between" + capere, "to take, seize").
Is “intercept” a common word?
“Intercept” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between intercept and interrupt?
Intercept means to stop or catch something before it reaches its destination, such as intercepting a message or a pass in sports. Interrupt means to break in on an action or on someone speaking, which does not necessarily involve catching or redirecting something in transit.
How is intercept used in sports?
In sports like American football, an intercept, or interception, occurs when a defender catches a pass intended for the opposing team, stopping it from reaching its intended receiver. The general meaning of stopping something before it arrives applies directly to this sporting sense.
What kinds of things can be intercepted besides physical objects?
Beyond physical objects like balls or letters, intercept is commonly used for communications, such as intercepting a phone call, email, or radio signal, meaning the message is captured before reaching its intended recipient. The word applies to anything traveling toward a destination that gets stopped along the way.
