Siege
noun
A military operation where enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies with the aim of making those inside surrender.
The army laid siege to the enemy's fortress for weeks.
Often appears as...
- lay siege to
- under siege
noun
A prolonged period of troubles or annoyance.
He was under siege from his creditors.
Often appears as...
- under siege
- feel like a siege
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A persistent or serious attack of illness.
She was in hospital after a siege of pneumonia.
Often appears as...
- a siege of illness
- survive a siege
Usage tips
Formal
Medical
noun
A military operation where enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies with the aim of making those inside surrender.
The army laid siege to the enemy's fortress for weeks.
Often appears as...
- lay siege to
- under siege
noun
A prolonged period of troubles or annoyance.
He was under siege from his creditors.
Often appears as...
- under siege
- feel like a siege
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A persistent or serious attack of illness.
She was in hospital after a siege of pneumonia.
Often appears as...
- a siege of illness
- survive a siege
Usage tips
Formal
Medical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Warfare Term
Used to describe strategic military encirclements in historical or current events.
The documentary highlighted the siege of Leningrad during World War II.
Pro Tip 2/3Intensity
Indicates a scenario with a high level of intensity and struggle.
Fierce resistance prolonged the siege beyond what was expected.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Can be used metaphorically for situations that feel like being trapped or surrounded.
The media's relentless questions felt like a siege to the politician.
Pro Tip 1/3Warfare Term
Used to describe strategic military encirclements in historical or current events.
The documentary highlighted the siege of Leningrad during World War II.
Pro Tip 2/3Intensity
Indicates a scenario with a high level of intensity and struggle.
Fierce resistance prolonged the siege beyond what was expected.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Can be used metaphorically for situations that feel like being trapped or surrounded.
The media's relentless questions felt like a siege to the politician.
Pro Tip 1/3Warfare Term
Used to describe strategic military encirclements in historical or current events.
The documentary highlighted the siege of Leningrad during World War II.
Pro Tip 2/3Intensity
Indicates a scenario with a high level of intensity and struggle.
Fierce resistance prolonged the siege beyond what was expected.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Can be used metaphorically for situations that feel like being trapped or surrounded.
The media's relentless questions felt like a siege to the politician.
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Video examples
What I learned at...
said he thought his speech should have been more substantive and more truly authentic and I would say no I really thought it was and and then he said well what did you really think this speech was about and I said well I was just watching a siege and I thought it seems so great and then I just was noticing
Video examples
Janine di Giovanni: What...
that lived through that siege, and I say I have the honor and the privilege of being there because it's taught me everything, not just about being a reporter, but about being a human being. I learned about compassion. I learned about ordinary people who could be heroes.
Video examples
Susan Solomon: The...
this field has been under siege politically and financially. Critical research is being challenged instead of supported, and we saw that it was really essential to have private safe haven laboratories where this work could be advanced without interference.
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
The siege of Baghdad laid bare a longstanding for centuries, the caliphs had ruled mostly symbolically. Local leaders throughout the empire had grown more powerful, and they refused to pay taxes, spending the money on their own courts instead.
Video examples
Inside a Civil War Most...
while a war raged on cities were under siege hundreds of people fled to shelter at an international peacekeepers base they protected the civilians as celica and anti-balaka forces traded fire next morning we were told that more than
Video examples
Marc Goodman: A vision...
Terrorists are doing this. A search engine can determine who shall live and who shall die. This is the world that we live in. During the Mumbai siege, terrorists were so dependent on technology that several witnesses reported that
Video examples
History vs. Genghis Khan...
His was a strict understanding of justice." "Multiple accounts show his army's brutality going beyond ripping unborn children from mothers' wombs, using prisoners as human shields, or moat fillers to support siege engines,
Video examples
Annie Murphy Paul: What...
researchers documented that people whose mothers were pregnant during the siege have more obesity, more diabetes and more heart disease in later life than individuals who were gestated under normal conditions.
Video examples
Manhattan Island PIPE Earth...
actually got a very distinctive profile there are two clusters of skyscrapers with much lower buildings in the middle this is a direct result of the a siege
Video examples
Why I put myself in...
And not all of them are bad. I love my country, despite the terrible situation we live in -- siege, poverty, unemployment -- but there is life.
Video examples
What I learned at...
said he thought his speech should have been more substantive and more truly authentic and I would say no I really thought it was and and then he said well what did you really think this speech was about and I said well I was just watching a siege and I thought it seems so great and then I just was noticing
Video examples
Janine di Giovanni: What...
that lived through that siege, and I say I have the honor and the privilege of being there because it's taught me everything, not just about being a reporter, but about being a human being. I learned about compassion. I learned about ordinary people who could be heroes.
Video examples
Susan Solomon: The...
this field has been under siege politically and financially. Critical research is being challenged instead of supported, and we saw that it was really essential to have private safe haven laboratories where this work could be advanced without interference.
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
The siege of Baghdad laid bare a longstanding for centuries, the caliphs had ruled mostly symbolically. Local leaders throughout the empire had grown more powerful, and they refused to pay taxes, spending the money on their own courts instead.
Video examples
Inside a Civil War Most...
while a war raged on cities were under siege hundreds of people fled to shelter at an international peacekeepers base they protected the civilians as celica and anti-balaka forces traded fire next morning we were told that more than
Video examples
Marc Goodman: A vision...
Terrorists are doing this. A search engine can determine who shall live and who shall die. This is the world that we live in. During the Mumbai siege, terrorists were so dependent on technology that several witnesses reported that
Video examples
History vs. Genghis Khan...
His was a strict understanding of justice." "Multiple accounts show his army's brutality going beyond ripping unborn children from mothers' wombs, using prisoners as human shields, or moat fillers to support siege engines,
Video examples
Annie Murphy Paul: What...
researchers documented that people whose mothers were pregnant during the siege have more obesity, more diabetes and more heart disease in later life than individuals who were gestated under normal conditions.
Video examples
Manhattan Island PIPE Earth...
actually got a very distinctive profile there are two clusters of skyscrapers with much lower buildings in the middle this is a direct result of the a siege
Video examples
Why I put myself in...
And not all of them are bad. I love my country, despite the terrible situation we live in -- siege, poverty, unemployment -- but there is life.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Hassan Nasrallah
Lebanese Revolutionary
The real danger to the world's resistance movements is the attempt to distort reality and to place the blame on the resistance groups' actions without allowing them to portray their perspective, thus ignoring the reality of the occupation and the siege, like the situation in occupied Palestine.
Quote examples
Susan L. Taylor
American Editor
We don't have time to waste. Our communities are crumbling; our children are under siege. Failing schools and a for-profit prison-industrial complex are sucking the life out of black homes and communities. We are not going down like this!
Quote examples
Lionel Richie
American Musician
Exactly when people are in turmoil is the time that the entertainment business has always been at its best. Because people don't want to be reminded every day that they are under siege, or that they're not having a great time of life.
Quote examples
Gareth Southgate
English Athlete
The players can associate playing for England with enjoyment, fun, and not being under siege and feeling everything is against them. There's an energy and a connection back. That's important in the short, mid, and long term as well.
Quote examples
Ismail Haniyeh
Palestinian Politician
The liberals and free people of the world will not like to see the Palestinian people living under siege. We have received indications from the international community that they will not stop their aid.
Quote examples
Jasmila Zbanic
Bosniak Director
What I'm trying to do with my work is to break open things that are sealed, that are under siege.
Quote examples
Mauricio Macri
Argentinian Statesman
The world is under siege, in conflict, but it is enthusiastic about Argentina.
Quote examples
Haris Pasovic
Bosniak Director
Art is a primal need - even under siege, especially under siege.
Quote examples
Theodore C. Sorensen
American Lawyer
We remain essentially a nation under siege.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
A siege is an act of war.
Quote examples
Hassan Nasrallah
Lebanese Revolutionary
The real danger to the world's resistance movements is the attempt to distort reality and to place the blame on the resistance groups' actions without allowing them to portray their perspective, thus ignoring the reality of the occupation and the siege, like the situation in occupied Palestine.
Quote examples
Susan L. Taylor
American Editor
We don't have time to waste. Our communities are crumbling; our children are under siege. Failing schools and a for-profit prison-industrial complex are sucking the life out of black homes and communities. We are not going down like this!
Quote examples
Lionel Richie
American Musician
Exactly when people are in turmoil is the time that the entertainment business has always been at its best. Because people don't want to be reminded every day that they are under siege, or that they're not having a great time of life.
Quote examples
Gareth Southgate
English Athlete
The players can associate playing for England with enjoyment, fun, and not being under siege and feeling everything is against them. There's an energy and a connection back. That's important in the short, mid, and long term as well.
Quote examples
Ismail Haniyeh
Palestinian Politician
The liberals and free people of the world will not like to see the Palestinian people living under siege. We have received indications from the international community that they will not stop their aid.
Quote examples
Jasmila Zbanic
Bosniak Director
What I'm trying to do with my work is to break open things that are sealed, that are under siege.
Quote examples
Mauricio Macri
Argentinian Statesman
The world is under siege, in conflict, but it is enthusiastic about Argentina.
Quote examples
Haris Pasovic
Bosniak Director
Art is a primal need - even under siege, especially under siege.
Quote examples
Theodore C. Sorensen
American Lawyer
We remain essentially a nation under siege.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
A siege is an act of war.
Example 1 of 10
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