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Showing results for hostage. Search instead for hostades.
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.

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The idea is to avoid being held hostage by a major market correction or, worse, a recession by being forced to withdraw money during a down market.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

This one is very real: a kind of Vision 2.0, rebuilt by the intelligence agency tasked with saving the New Jersey town Wanda took hostage to shore up her classic family sitcom simulation.

From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026

It helps you draw boundaries without being held hostage to accusations of selfishness.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

They include Gadi Moses, another kibbutz co-founder, and the oldest living male hostage released during the Gaza war, and Yair Horn, who stops to chat with the Aharons as he passes in a golf buggy.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

I didn’t want to admit that I was being held hostage by my irrational mother.

From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez

Embassy in Tehran and seized American hostages, 52 of whom it held for 444 days.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Eisenkot has said he would launch an independent inquiry into the attack, which left around 1,200 people dead and another roughly 250 as hostages.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

Relatives of hostages formerly held by Hamas have also been caught in the crosshairs.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

The ceasefire saw thousands of Palestinians held by Israel released in return for the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

There was a bearded young Wickersham in a large photo after the incident was over, acting as spokesman for the just- released hostages.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

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other hand, John Donvan conceded that there is a limit to living in the past—to hostaging yourself, for instance, to outdated agreements and other generations’ crimes.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


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