Pronunciation: /ˌɪntərˈsɛpt/

Definitions of intercept

noun the action of stopping or catching something before it reaches its intended destination

Example Sentences

A1 The police were able to intercept the thief before he escaped.

A2 The interception of the enemy's communication helped the soldiers plan their attack.

B1 The interception of the pass led to a turnover in the football game.

B2 The interception of the email revealed important information about the company's plans.

C1 The interception of the spy's messages was crucial in preventing a terrorist attack.

C2 The interception of the drug shipment by customs officials saved many lives.

verb to stop or catch something before it reaches its intended destination

Example Sentences

A1 The police intercepted the thief before he could escape.

A2 The goalkeeper managed to intercept the ball before it reached the goal.

B1 The spy intercepted the enemy's communication and decoded their plans.

B2 The air force was able to intercept the enemy aircraft before they reached their target.

C1 The cybersecurity team intercepted the hacker's attempt to breach the system.

C2 The government intercepted the terrorist plot before it could be carried out.

Examples of intercept in a Sentence

formal The military was able to intercept the enemy's communication signals.

informal I intercepted my sister's text messages to read them before she did.

slang The hacker was able to intercept the password and gain access to the account.

figurative The detective was able to intercept the criminal before he could escape.

Grammatical Forms of intercept

past tense

intercepted

plural

intercepts

comparative

more intercepting

superlative

most intercepting

present tense

intercepts

future tense

will intercept

perfect tense

has intercepted

continuous tense

is intercepting

singular

intercept

positive degree

intercept

infinitive

to intercept

gerund

intercepting

participle

intercepted

Origin and Evolution of intercept

First Known Use: 1568 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'intercept' originated from the Latin word 'interceptus', which is a combination of the prefix 'inter-' meaning 'between' or 'among' and the verb 'capere' meaning 'to take'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in military contexts to describe the act of obstructing or seizing something in transit, the word 'intercept' has evolved to also refer to the act of stopping or catching something before it reaches its intended destination in various fields such as telecommunications, sports, and mathematics.