noun
Common
siege
seej
Siege (noun) means a prolonged military operation in which an army surrounds a city or fortress to force its surrender. Example: “Food ran low as the siege dragged on through the winter.”
noun
1
A prolonged military operation in which an army surrounds a city or fortress to force its surrender.
"Food ran low as the siege dragged on through the winter."
"The city endured a siege lasting almost a year before it fell."
"The castle was built to withstand a long siege."
2
A prolonged period of difficulty or hardship, especially due to illness or hostile pressure.
"After a long siege of flu and money worries, he finally felt like himself again."
"The family endured a siege of bad luck, from a flooded kitchen to a broken car."
"She went through a long siege of ill health that year."
verb
1
To besiege; to surround and blockade.
"The army sieged the walled town until the food ran out."
"Enemy forces had sieged the fortress for weeks before help arrived."
"The rebels sieged the capital for months."
How to use siege
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sustained military blockade of a place, or by extension any prolonged ordeal.
Common pairings
under siege
lay siege to
a siege mentality
lift the siege
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like siege.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- sieges
- Third person singular
- sieges
- Past tense
- sieged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Food ran low as the _____ dragged on through the winter.
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".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for siege
See all rhymes for 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.
