hostage

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.

Since the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran and the hostage crisis that followed in 1979, the two countries have had no formal diplomatic relations.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

"The Strait may eventually reopen fully, but until there is something more concrete than draft frameworks and political theatre, every barrel remains hostage to headline volatility, even if sub-$100," he said.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

The new risk is different and, in some ways, harder to manage: It assumes that civilian power infrastructure becomes a military asset, a hostage or a weapon simply by existing in a conflict zone.

From Salon • May 21, 2026

What about the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran holds hostage global energy flows and more?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

He ran up the stoop and they all greeted one another as if a hostage standoff had just ended.

From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben