impound

verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

impounded; impounding; impounds

transitive verb

1

a

: to shut up in or as if in a pound : confine

b

: to seize and hold in the custody of the law

c

: to take possession of

she was dismissed and her manuscript impounded

—Jonathan Weiner

2

: to collect and confine (water) in or as if in a reservoir

Examples of impound in a Sentence

The police impounded her car because it was illegally parked.

impound evidence for a trial

Recent Examples on the Web

Alonso's 42-foot Boston Whaler has been impounded by FWC. —Christina Coulter, Fox News, 16 May 2024

How to find out if my vehicle was impounded People can search through the LMPD's Towed Vehicle Search website for their vehicle's license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN) to find out if it was impounded. —Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 11 May 2024

Some other measures could include impounding vehicles of individuals caught dumping and the car parts could be sold to pay for the cleanup. —Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 9 May 2024

Topolski said e-bike violations are also a problem on the island and riders not following the rules risk warnings, tickets and even having the e-bike being impounded. —Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 9 May 2024

People who were living on boats in the waterway were warned to leave or have their boats impounded as well. —Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024

Her vehicle was also impounded by CCSO on the same day. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024

Both were towed and impounded, according to the incident report. —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

More recently, tougher enforcement by the Taiwanese Coast Guard, which has seized and impounded intruding Chinese vessels, helped reduce the violations, Taiwanese officials said. —Amy Chang Chien, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

impound

verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

1

: to shut up in or as if in an enclosed place

2

: to seize and hold in the hands of the law

impound evidence for a trial

impoundment

-ˈpau̇n(d)-mənt

noun

Legal Definition

impound

transitive verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

: to take control of in the custody of the law or by legal authority

impound a vehicle

the police impounded the dwelling until the search warrant was obtained

impoundment noun