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.

Military spokesperson Lt-Col Haruna M Sani described the assault on Boko Haram's Mandara mountain hideout, "under cover of darkness", as one of the military's "most significant hostage rescue operations" in the north-east.

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

Embassy in Tehran and held dozens of Americans hostage for 444 days.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 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

During the journey her worried thoughts had included the following: Would she arrive at Ashton Place on time for her interview, or would masked bandits storm the train and take the passengers hostage?

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood