seize on/upon
phrasal verb
seized on/upon; seizing on/upon; seizes on/upon
: to take or use (something, such as a chance or opportunity) in a quick and eager way
His critics have seized on the scandal to call for his resignation.
She seized on the opportunity to tell her side of the story.
Examples of seize on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If his approval ratings continue to be underwater, Democrats will hope to seize on that and ride a Blue Wave back into control of Congress.
—
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Trump aides have pointed to their decision to seize on culture wars surrounding transgender rights during the 2024 campaign as key to their win.
—Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
But the morning after is the clincher, revealing that everything else was prelude to the all-important question of how to get outside their own heads and seize on the potential of a genuine human connection.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 July 2025
Mexico's ruling party, Morena, overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government until now out of their reach.
—Arkansas Online, 2 June 2025
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Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Trump aides have pointed to their decision to seize on culture wars surrounding transgender rights during the 2024 campaign as key to their win.
—Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
But the morning after is the clincher, revealing that everything else was prelude to the all-important question of how to get outside their own heads and seize on the potential of a genuine human connection.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 July 2025
Mexico's ruling party, Morena, overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government until now out of their reach.
—Arkansas Online, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for seize on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Seize on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seize%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
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