Highjack: meaning, definitions and examples

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highjack

 

[ haษชหˆdส’รฆk ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

illegal activity

To hijack means to seize control of a vehicle or aircraft by force or threat of violence. It is often associated with terrorism and criminal activities, where an individual or group takes over a mode of transportation to achieve specific demands. Hijacking can create significant fear and disruption, as it puts the lives of passengers at stake. It has been a common practice in various high-stakes scenarios, often leading to negotiations or law enforcement interventions.

Synonyms

commandeer, seize, take over

Examples of usage

  • The terrorists attempted to hijack the airplane.
  • A group of criminals tried to hijack the bus during the trip.
  • They planned to hijack a car to escape.
  • The movie depicts a dramatic hijack of a luxury yacht.

Translations

Translations of the word "highjack" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sequestro

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคนเคพเค‡เคœเฅˆเค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Entfรผhrung

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pembajakan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะธะบั€ะฐะดะตะฝะฝั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ porwanie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒใ‚คใ‚ธใƒฃใƒƒใ‚ฏ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dรฉtournement

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ secuestro

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท korsanlฤฑk

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ•˜์ด์žฌํ‚น

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงุฎุชุทุงู

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ รบnos

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ รบnos

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅŠซๆŒ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zaseg

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ rรกna

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ าฑั€ะปะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฐแƒแƒ˜แƒฏแƒ”แƒ™แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hijack

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ secuestro

Etymology

The word 'hijack' is believed to have originated in the early 20th century, initially appearing in American English. It is thought to have derived from the term 'hi-jack', which was used to refer to the act of robbing a truck or cargo. The 'hi' prefix may have suggested an elevation of some kind, contrasting with 'jack', which can denote the act of lifting or seizing. The term became more widely recognized during the 1960s and 1970s as incidents of aircraft hijacking surged globally, often linked to political motivations and terrorism. Over time, the word's usage expanded beyond aviation to encompass any similar act involving vehicles, making it a common term in legal and media contexts.