capture

To record a sight or sound, or show a feeling clearly through art.

• The camera captured his smile.
• Her song captures the sadness of leaving home.
• We captured the birds' calls with a small recorder.

How to use it: capture something on film (She captured the falling snow on film.); capture something in something (He captured her excitement in his painting.)

Similar words: record, portray

Common phrases: capture an image, capture a moment, capture the mood, capture on film

To catch a person or animal and prevent them from leaving.

• They captured the escaped tiger.
• The enemy captured three soldiers near the border.
• Can the police capture the suspect alive?

Similar words: catch, seize, take prisoner

Opposites: release, free

Common phrases: capture someone alive, capture an animal, capture a suspect

To make someone very interested in something.

• The story captured my attention.
• Space travel captures many children's imagination.
• Her unusual idea captured the interest of several investors.

Similar words: engage, attract, hold

Common phrases: capture someone's attention, capture someone's imagination, capture someone's interest

To take control of a place or object, often by fighting or competing.

• The army captured the town.
• Our team must capture the other team's flag.
• They captured the fort after a long battle.

Similar words: take, seize, take over

Opposites: surrender

Common phrases: capture a city, capture the flag, capture enemy territory

To make someone love you or feel strong affection for something.

• Her smile captured his heart.
• The little dog quickly captured our hearts.
• Can this young singer capture the nation's heart?

Similar words: win, charm

Common phrases: capture someone's heart, capture someone's affections

To become an important news story that receives a lot of attention.

• The scandal captured the headlines.
• Her unexpected victory captured national headlines.
• The announcement will capture the headlines tomorrow.

Similar words: make headlines, dominate the news

Common phrases: capture the headlines, capture national headlines

The act of catching a person or animal and preventing them from leaving.

• The thief escaped capture.
• Police announced the capture of two suspects.
• The soldier feared capture by enemy forces.

How to use it: capture of someone/something (The capture of the escaped lion ended the search.)

Similar words: catching, seizure

Opposites: release

Common phrases: capture of someone, avoid capture, escape capture

The process of recording images, sounds, or information so they can be used later.

• This software supports video capture.
• Audio capture starts when you press the red button.
• We improved data capture on the new devices.

Similar words: recording

Common phrases: video capture, audio capture, data capture, screen capture