Kidnap

Pronunciation: /ˈkɪdˌnæp/

Definitions of kidnap

verb to take someone away illegally by force, typically to obtain a ransom

Example Sentences

A1 The villain tried to kidnap the princess.

A2 The police rescued the kidnapped child.

B1 The criminals planned to kidnap the wealthy businessman for ransom.

B2 The authorities managed to prevent the attempted kidnapping of the diplomat.

C1 The terrorist group threatened to kidnap the ambassador if their demands were not met.

C2 The elaborate scheme to kidnap the heiress was foiled by the undercover agents.

Examples of kidnap in a Sentence

formal The police were able to rescue the victim who had been kidnapped for ransom.

informal I heard a rumor that someone tried to kidnap the neighbor's dog last night.

slang If you don't pay up, I'll have to kidnap your favorite stuffed animal!

figurative The new marketing campaign aims to kidnap the attention of young consumers.

Grammatical Forms of kidnap

• past tense: kidnapped
• plural: kidnappers
• comparative: more kidnapped
• superlative: most kidnapped
• present tense: kidnaps
• future tense: will kidnap
• perfect tense: have kidnapped
• continuous tense: is kidnapping
• singular: kidnapper
• positive degree: kidnap
• infinitive: to kidnap
• gerund: kidnapping
• participle: kidnapped

Origin and Evolution of kidnap

First Known Use: 1678 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'kidnap' is believed to have originated from the combination of 'kid,' meaning child, and 'nap,' meaning to seize or snatch.

Evolution of the word: Originally, 'kidnap' referred specifically to the act of stealing children. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the abduction of adults as well.