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Definitions

hostage

[hos-tij] / ˈhɒs tɪdʒ /
NOUN
person held captive until captor's demand is met
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Her husband's mother was a spokesperson for the group that took dozens of Americans captive during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

From BBC Aug. 19, 2026

Maybe I associate too much with loving, devoted parents and not enough with intellectuals who think parents are holding their kids hostage.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 13, 2026

Their last two presidents, Jimmy Carter and Lyndon Johnson, had left office under the clouds of the Iran hostage crisis, in the case of the former, and Vietnam with the latter.

From Salon Aug. 11, 2026

It seems like every industry is being held hostage by artificial intelligence.

From MarketWatch Aug. 7, 2026

Nineteen eighty-three brought the B-block takeover and hostage crisis.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

The first phase saw the release of all remaining hostages taken during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 31, 2026

“Once he became Middle East envoy and was given responsibility for the hostages, he became one of the most famous people in Israel overnight,” an Israeli journalist who has covered him told me.

From Slate Jul. 22, 2026

"Bolivians cannot continue to be hostages of blockades that prevent working, studying, receiving medical attention, supplying themselves, and bringing sustenance to their homes," he said in a social media post on Saturday.

From BBC Jun. 20, 2026

Many of the hostages have now been released.

From BBC Jun. 9, 2026

Outside in the world, volcanoes erupted, governments rose and collapsed and bartered for hostages, rockets exploded, walls fell.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

On the other hand, John Donvan conceded that there is a limit to living in the past—to hostaging yourself, for instance, to outdated agreements and other generations’ crimes.

From Slate Jan. 11, 2012

Q. Have you expressed that view of hostaging to President Bush?

From Time Magazine Archive

In their minds, hostaging means trading -- and trading means talking.

From Time Magazine Archive




Vocabulary lists containing hostage


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