impound
verb
im·pound
im-ˈpau̇nd 
impounded; impounding; impounds
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
Jonathan Weiner2
: 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
The Norfolk Superior Court judge in Dedham ordered that the Read juror list will be impounded, and reporters are banned from physically describing jurors to the public.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
The agents proceeded to detain several employees and impound two boxes of employment documents, according to a group of Kansas City immigration attorneys.
—Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2025
When Yardley submitted the manuscript to Macmillan in February 1933, a U.S. marshal seized and impounded it under the Espionage Act of 1917, which prohibited taking secret documents.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
Houthi Activity in Parallel Historically, Iran has harassed and impounded vessels in the region, though direct attacks have been less frequent recently.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impound
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Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
The agents proceeded to detain several employees and impound two boxes of employment documents, according to a group of Kansas City immigration attorneys.
—Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2025
When Yardley submitted the manuscript to Macmillan in February 1933, a U.S. marshal seized and impounded it under the Espionage Act of 1917, which prohibited taking secret documents.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
Houthi Activity in Parallel Historically, Iran has harassed and impounded vessels in the region, though direct attacks have been less frequent recently.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impound
Cite this Entry
“Impound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impound. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
-ˈpau̇n(d)-mənt
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
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