Ransom
noun
Money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one million dollars for his release.
Often appears as...
- demand a ransom
- pay a ransom
verb
To pay money to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped.
His family had to sell almost everything they owned to ransom him.
Often appears as...
- ransom somebody
- ransom somebody from
noun
In a religious context, the deliverance of sinners from the penalty of their sin through Jesus Christ's death.
Jesus paid a ransom for our sins according to Christian belief.
Often appears as...
- pay a ransom
- ransom of sin
Usage tips
Theological
noun
Money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one million dollars for his release.
Often appears as...
- demand a ransom
- pay a ransom
verb
To pay money to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped.
His family had to sell almost everything they owned to ransom him.
Often appears as...
- ransom somebody
- ransom somebody from
noun
In a religious context, the deliverance of sinners from the penalty of their sin through Jesus Christ's death.
Jesus paid a ransom for our sins according to Christian belief.
Often appears as...
- pay a ransom
- ransom of sin
Usage tips
Theological
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Crime Related
The term 'ransom' is mainly used in illegal or criminal circumstances involving hostages.
The police negotiated the ransom for the hostages safely.
Pro Tip 2/3High Stakes
'Ransom' often implies a large amount of money and a tense, urgent situation.
The CEO's ransom was set at an astronomical five million dollars.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation
The word 'ransom' usually has negative connotations, associating with fear and danger.
The ransom message left us in a state of panic.
Pro Tip 1/3Crime Related
The term 'ransom' is mainly used in illegal or criminal circumstances involving hostages.
The police negotiated the ransom for the hostages safely.
Pro Tip 2/3High Stakes
'Ransom' often implies a large amount of money and a tense, urgent situation.
The CEO's ransom was set at an astronomical five million dollars.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation
The word 'ransom' usually has negative connotations, associating with fear and danger.
The ransom message left us in a state of panic.
Pro Tip 1/3Crime Related
The term 'ransom' is mainly used in illegal or criminal circumstances involving hostages.
The police negotiated the ransom for the hostages safely.
Pro Tip 2/3High Stakes
'Ransom' often implies a large amount of money and a tense, urgent situation.
The CEO's ransom was set at an astronomical five million dollars.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation
The word 'ransom' usually has negative connotations, associating with fear and danger.
The ransom message left us in a state of panic.
Compare with
compensationexpiatoryindemnitypaymentredemptionreimbursereparationrestitution
Never forget "Ransom"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
The punishable perils of...
from which plagiarism originates. Brain child snatchers sneak up on innocent papers and copy and paste them without citing any sources, putting quotation marks around direct quotes or changing a word. They've also been known to steal and hold particularly eloquent essays for ransom.
Video examples
Portraits of Afghanistan...
but he faced constant threats from the taliban so sombo's father he's still back in nuristan and he was kidnapped three times by taliban to be forced to take his daughters out of music school each time local elders paid a ransom to free him and her father kept joking as i hope
Video examples
She Summited Each...
But in the last four years, I've gone through every extreme situation, from eating my own, and poisoning myself, because my camp got totally destroyed, and my toilet got mixed with my food, to getting held captive in Papua, and held for ransom, to losing my best friends,
Video examples
How a concubine became...
Days later, she negotiated the ransom of the French king and his army in exchange for an enormous sum of money and the surrender of the occupied port city. In spite of her success leading Egypt through this military crisis,
Video examples
The strange history of...
split between its front and back, was suddenly gone. The commissioner investigated the scene but determined that a theft at a cheese shop was more pressing. Twelve ransom notes appeared over the following months
Video examples
Can you solve the sea...
for behavior that may at first look abstract and mysterious. The monsters accept your ransom and swim back down to the depths for another thousand years. With the proper planning,
Video examples
Fred Swaniker: The...
The second thing that this generation needs to do is to create our institutions. They need to build these institutions such that we are never held to ransom again
Video examples
Exo-Cannibalism PIPE...
farmers voluntarily turned to the gods for help offering up a bloody ransom the important point for me is that it is a ritual it's not a normal meal like Oh
Video examples
How to Stop Banks from...
and stop financing coal plants on top of new coal mines. It's not a ransom, not a trap. Just a friendly nudge. I'm only here to help.
Video examples
Up for a Fight PIPE Banded...
forming two distinct ransom needle-sharp teeth pierced the skin on both sides
Video examples
The punishable perils of...
from which plagiarism originates. Brain child snatchers sneak up on innocent papers and copy and paste them without citing any sources, putting quotation marks around direct quotes or changing a word. They've also been known to steal and hold particularly eloquent essays for ransom.
Video examples
Portraits of Afghanistan...
but he faced constant threats from the taliban so sombo's father he's still back in nuristan and he was kidnapped three times by taliban to be forced to take his daughters out of music school each time local elders paid a ransom to free him and her father kept joking as i hope
Video examples
She Summited Each...
But in the last four years, I've gone through every extreme situation, from eating my own, and poisoning myself, because my camp got totally destroyed, and my toilet got mixed with my food, to getting held captive in Papua, and held for ransom, to losing my best friends,
Video examples
How a concubine became...
Days later, she negotiated the ransom of the French king and his army in exchange for an enormous sum of money and the surrender of the occupied port city. In spite of her success leading Egypt through this military crisis,
Video examples
The strange history of...
split between its front and back, was suddenly gone. The commissioner investigated the scene but determined that a theft at a cheese shop was more pressing. Twelve ransom notes appeared over the following months
Video examples
Can you solve the sea...
for behavior that may at first look abstract and mysterious. The monsters accept your ransom and swim back down to the depths for another thousand years. With the proper planning,
Video examples
Fred Swaniker: The...
The second thing that this generation needs to do is to create our institutions. They need to build these institutions such that we are never held to ransom again
Video examples
Exo-Cannibalism PIPE...
farmers voluntarily turned to the gods for help offering up a bloody ransom the important point for me is that it is a ritual it's not a normal meal like Oh
Video examples
How to Stop Banks from...
and stop financing coal plants on top of new coal mines. It's not a ransom, not a trap. Just a friendly nudge. I'm only here to help.
Video examples
Up for a Fight PIPE Banded...
forming two distinct ransom needle-sharp teeth pierced the skin on both sides
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Amanda Lindhout
Canadian Journalist
Many, including the Canadian and U.S. governments, try to provide family support while also maintaining a hard line about further fuelling terrorism and hostage-taking through ransom payments ... Still, try telling that to a mother, or a father, or a husband or wife caught in the powerless agony of standing by.
Quote examples
Demetri Martin
American Comedian
I think it would be cool if you were writing a ransom note on your computer, if the paper clip popped up and said, 'Looks like you're writing a ransom note. Need help? You should use more forceful language, you'll get more money.
Quote examples
Des Browne
British Politician
Are we prepared to tolerate a world in which countries which care about morality lay down their nuclear weapons, leaving others to threaten the rest of the world or hold it to ransom?
Quote examples
Abhijit Banerjee
American Economist
Every nation necessarily inhabits a morally compromised space. All too often our ideals seem to be held to ransom by what we believe, rightly or wrongly, to be objective reality.
Quote examples
Jane Goodall
English Scientist
In 1975, when my students were kidnapped by rebels, I was accused of hiding instead of trying to save them, and of not giving enough money for their ransom. I wasn't believed.
Quote examples
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Leader
A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.
Quote examples
Kanika Dhillon
Indian Author
I want to be a proud daughter of Punjab. Celebrate my roots - fly, flourish, write stories, characters. Don't hold me and my voice to ransom. Enable me, don't disable me!
Quote examples
Elliott Abrams
American Lawyer
The ransoming of captives has been practiced by Jews for many centuries and has been regarded as a greater obligation than charity for the poor.
Quote examples
Akshay Kumar
Indian Actor
I do not hold God ransom to my success; whatever is his will is my way. I stand by moments; I do not stand by time.
Quote examples
Lynsey Addario
American Photographer
In so many countries, Western journalists are viewed simply as dollar signs. We're ransom objects.
Quote examples
Amanda Lindhout
Canadian Journalist
Many, including the Canadian and U.S. governments, try to provide family support while also maintaining a hard line about further fuelling terrorism and hostage-taking through ransom payments ... Still, try telling that to a mother, or a father, or a husband or wife caught in the powerless agony of standing by.
Quote examples
Demetri Martin
American Comedian
I think it would be cool if you were writing a ransom note on your computer, if the paper clip popped up and said, 'Looks like you're writing a ransom note. Need help? You should use more forceful language, you'll get more money.
Quote examples
Des Browne
British Politician
Are we prepared to tolerate a world in which countries which care about morality lay down their nuclear weapons, leaving others to threaten the rest of the world or hold it to ransom?
Quote examples
Abhijit Banerjee
American Economist
Every nation necessarily inhabits a morally compromised space. All too often our ideals seem to be held to ransom by what we believe, rightly or wrongly, to be objective reality.
Quote examples
Jane Goodall
English Scientist
In 1975, when my students were kidnapped by rebels, I was accused of hiding instead of trying to save them, and of not giving enough money for their ransom. I wasn't believed.
Quote examples
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Leader
A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.
Quote examples
Kanika Dhillon
Indian Author
I want to be a proud daughter of Punjab. Celebrate my roots - fly, flourish, write stories, characters. Don't hold me and my voice to ransom. Enable me, don't disable me!
Quote examples
Elliott Abrams
American Lawyer
The ransoming of captives has been practiced by Jews for many centuries and has been regarded as a greater obligation than charity for the poor.
Quote examples
Akshay Kumar
Indian Actor
I do not hold God ransom to my success; whatever is his will is my way. I stand by moments; I do not stand by time.
Quote examples
Lynsey Addario
American Photographer
In so many countries, Western journalists are viewed simply as dollar signs. We're ransom objects.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension