seize up
Third Person
seizes up
Present Participle
seizing up
Past Tense
seized up
Past Participle
seized up
1
(of a machine or system) to stop working because its parts have become stuck or jammed
- The machine in the factory seized up, halting production for hours.
- The car's brakes seized up, causing a dangerous situation on the road.
- The gears in the old clock seized up, and it stopped ticking.
- The engine seized up after years of neglect.
- The old printer often seizes up when it's trying to print multiple pages at once.
2
to become stiff or immobile, typically referring to a part of the body
- After sitting for hours, his legs seized up, making it difficult to stand.
- Don't sit in one position for too long; your back might seize up.
- During the hike, his knee suddenly seized up, causing him to stop.
- The athlete had to quit the game when her hamstring seized up.
- The cramp in his calf caused it to seize up during the marathon.