Hostage
noun
A person who is captured by someone who demands that certain things be done before the captured person is set free.
The terrorists held the diplomat as a hostage for months.
Often appears as...
- taken hostage
- release the hostage
noun
Someone kept as a prisoner by an enemy so that the other side will do what the enemy demands.
In exchange for the hostages, the kidnapper demanded a plane to take him to a foreign country.
Often appears as...
- hostage situation
- hostage negotiation
Usage tips
Legal
noun
A person who is a victim of a particular situation, circumstance, or concept.
The workers are essentially hostages in their own factory.
Often appears as...
- been taken hostage
- feel like a hostage
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A person who is captured by someone who demands that certain things be done before the captured person is set free.
The terrorists held the diplomat as a hostage for months.
Often appears as...
- taken hostage
- release the hostage
noun
Someone kept as a prisoner by an enemy so that the other side will do what the enemy demands.
In exchange for the hostages, the kidnapper demanded a plane to take him to a foreign country.
Often appears as...
- hostage situation
- hostage negotiation
Usage tips
Legal
noun
A person who is a victim of a particular situation, circumstance, or concept.
The workers are essentially hostages in their own factory.
Often appears as...
- been taken hostage
- feel like a hostage
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3High Stakes
The word 'hostage' often indicates a high-risk situation where lives are in danger.
The bank robbers took hostages to ensure their escape plan.
Pro Tip 2/3Demand and Release
'Hostage' implies that the captor has demands before releasing the captive.
The hijacker will not release his hostages until his demands are satisfied.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotionally Charged
Using 'hostage' can evoke strong emotions and a sense of urgency or danger.
The news of the hostages gripped the nation in fear.
Pro Tip 1/3High Stakes
The word 'hostage' often indicates a high-risk situation where lives are in danger.
The bank robbers took hostages to ensure their escape plan.
Pro Tip 2/3Demand and Release
'Hostage' implies that the captor has demands before releasing the captive.
The hijacker will not release his hostages until his demands are satisfied.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotionally Charged
Using 'hostage' can evoke strong emotions and a sense of urgency or danger.
The news of the hostages gripped the nation in fear.
Pro Tip 1/3High Stakes
The word 'hostage' often indicates a high-risk situation where lives are in danger.
The bank robbers took hostages to ensure their escape plan.
Pro Tip 2/3Demand and Release
'Hostage' implies that the captor has demands before releasing the captive.
The hijacker will not release his hostages until his demands are satisfied.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotionally Charged
Using 'hostage' can evoke strong emotions and a sense of urgency or danger.
The news of the hostages gripped the nation in fear.
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Video examples
3 questions to ask...
who stood up and said, "This is our state, too." Those are successes that tell me how I can get it done. But they also let me understand the obstacles aren't insurmountable. They're just a little high. But I also understand that there are three things that always hold us hostage.
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
Bechtel test and I don't think it should because there a lot of the movie and oh no if you've seen it but a lot of the movie takes place in this embassy where men and women are hiding out during the hostage crisis we got quite a few scenes of the men having deep angst-ridden
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
I don't know if you've seen it, but a lot of the movie takes place in this embassy where men and women are hiding out during the hostage crisis. We've got quite a few scenes of the men having deep, angst-ridden conversations in this hideout,
Video examples
A call to men PIPE Tony...
I come to also look at this as this fear that we have as men, this fear that just has us paralyzed, holding us hostage to this man box. I can remember speaking to a 12-year-old boy, a football player, and I asked him, I said,
Video examples
Shaka Senghor: Why your...
but it doesn't have to be that way. Anybody can have a transformation if we create the space for that to happen. So what I'm asking today is that you envision a world where men and women aren't held hostage to their pasts,
Video examples
What almost dying taught...
these strangers and their words became lifelines, dispatches from people of so many different backgrounds, with so many different experiences, all showing me the same you can be held hostage
Video examples
Ingrid Betancourt: What...
was nothing compared to that of the other hostages, because, obviously they were scared -- we were all scared -- and they were afraid that, because of me, they would be punished. But for me,
Video examples
Operation Thunderbolt PIPE...
three will storm through the terminal doors eliminate the terrorists and free the hostages the next day in total secrecy the army builds a life-sized replica of the terminal they handpick
Video examples
Addiction is a disease....
I was afraid we were losing this battle because people were blaming us for being sick. Public policy was being held hostage by stigma and fear, and also held hostage
Video examples
Killing Pablo PIPE National...
muchachos he takes the officials hostage and calls his most trusted ally his sister yeah Oh marina he said marina the government
Video examples
3 questions to ask...
who stood up and said, "This is our state, too." Those are successes that tell me how I can get it done. But they also let me understand the obstacles aren't insurmountable. They're just a little high. But I also understand that there are three things that always hold us hostage.
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
Bechtel test and I don't think it should because there a lot of the movie and oh no if you've seen it but a lot of the movie takes place in this embassy where men and women are hiding out during the hostage crisis we got quite a few scenes of the men having deep angst-ridden
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
I don't know if you've seen it, but a lot of the movie takes place in this embassy where men and women are hiding out during the hostage crisis. We've got quite a few scenes of the men having deep, angst-ridden conversations in this hideout,
Video examples
A call to men PIPE Tony...
I come to also look at this as this fear that we have as men, this fear that just has us paralyzed, holding us hostage to this man box. I can remember speaking to a 12-year-old boy, a football player, and I asked him, I said,
Video examples
Shaka Senghor: Why your...
but it doesn't have to be that way. Anybody can have a transformation if we create the space for that to happen. So what I'm asking today is that you envision a world where men and women aren't held hostage to their pasts,
Video examples
What almost dying taught...
these strangers and their words became lifelines, dispatches from people of so many different backgrounds, with so many different experiences, all showing me the same you can be held hostage
Video examples
Ingrid Betancourt: What...
was nothing compared to that of the other hostages, because, obviously they were scared -- we were all scared -- and they were afraid that, because of me, they would be punished. But for me,
Video examples
Operation Thunderbolt PIPE...
three will storm through the terminal doors eliminate the terrorists and free the hostages the next day in total secrecy the army builds a life-sized replica of the terminal they handpick
Video examples
Addiction is a disease....
I was afraid we were losing this battle because people were blaming us for being sick. Public policy was being held hostage by stigma and fear, and also held hostage
Video examples
Killing Pablo PIPE National...
muchachos he takes the officials hostage and calls his most trusted ally his sister yeah Oh marina he said marina the government
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Hugh Laurie
British Actor
I feel like a hostage to fortune. Not that I am complaining. I wanted to play the role. But in truth I didn't think the show would be such a success. OK, I thought it would fail. Not because it was bad. I was confident it was good, but plenty of good things just sort of wither on the vine.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
Almost all our suffering is the product of our thoughts. We spend nearly every moment of our lives lost in thought, and hostage to the character of those thoughts. You can break this spell, but it takes training just like it takes training to defend yourself against a physical assault.
Quote examples
Benazir Bhutto
Pakistani Leader
I have led an unusual life. I have buried a father killed at age 50 and two brothers killed in the prime of their lives. I raised my children as a single mother when my husband was arrested and held for eight years without a conviction - a hostage to my political career.
Quote examples
Amanda Lindhout
Canadian Journalist
I made a vow to myself while I was a hostage that if I were lucky enough to live and to get out of Somalia, I would do something meaningful with my life - and specifically something that would be meaningful in the country where I'd lost my freedom.
Quote examples
Ingrid Betancourt
Colombian Politician
In the jungle, every day is like the other. So you need to have a special discipline to make things different and to keep in your memory the dates and the days. And I think that's something that's very important when you are held hostage.
Quote examples
Newt Gingrich
American Politician
If you live your life as a hostage to everybody else's decision, you either have to live a very narrow life, or you have to spend a lot of time in pain.
Quote examples
Christopher Voss
American Businessman
In Syria, for some time, they have been trading hostages for a number of things: for weapons, for money, for political influence, and for favors.
Quote examples
Tom Cotton
American Politician
We have taught Iran's leaders and the world a very bad lesson: that there is a price on the head of Americans to be held hostage.
Quote examples
David Antin
American Poet
It's hard being a hostage in somebody else's mouth - or a character in somebody else's novel.
Quote examples
Wayne Dyer
American Psychologist
You can either be a host to God, or a hostage to your ego. It's your call.
Quote examples
Hugh Laurie
British Actor
I feel like a hostage to fortune. Not that I am complaining. I wanted to play the role. But in truth I didn't think the show would be such a success. OK, I thought it would fail. Not because it was bad. I was confident it was good, but plenty of good things just sort of wither on the vine.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
Almost all our suffering is the product of our thoughts. We spend nearly every moment of our lives lost in thought, and hostage to the character of those thoughts. You can break this spell, but it takes training just like it takes training to defend yourself against a physical assault.
Quote examples
Benazir Bhutto
Pakistani Leader
I have led an unusual life. I have buried a father killed at age 50 and two brothers killed in the prime of their lives. I raised my children as a single mother when my husband was arrested and held for eight years without a conviction - a hostage to my political career.
Quote examples
Amanda Lindhout
Canadian Journalist
I made a vow to myself while I was a hostage that if I were lucky enough to live and to get out of Somalia, I would do something meaningful with my life - and specifically something that would be meaningful in the country where I'd lost my freedom.
Quote examples
Ingrid Betancourt
Colombian Politician
In the jungle, every day is like the other. So you need to have a special discipline to make things different and to keep in your memory the dates and the days. And I think that's something that's very important when you are held hostage.
Quote examples
Newt Gingrich
American Politician
If you live your life as a hostage to everybody else's decision, you either have to live a very narrow life, or you have to spend a lot of time in pain.
Quote examples
Christopher Voss
American Businessman
In Syria, for some time, they have been trading hostages for a number of things: for weapons, for money, for political influence, and for favors.
Quote examples
Tom Cotton
American Politician
We have taught Iran's leaders and the world a very bad lesson: that there is a price on the head of Americans to be held hostage.
Quote examples
David Antin
American Poet
It's hard being a hostage in somebody else's mouth - or a character in somebody else's novel.
Quote examples
Wayne Dyer
American Psychologist
You can either be a host to God, or a hostage to your ego. It's your call.
Example 1 of 10
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