1
a
: a military blockade of a city or fortified place to compel it to surrender
b
: a persistent or serious attack (as of illness)
2
obsolete
: a seat of distinction : throne
sieged; sieging
Synonyms
Examples of siege in a Sentence
Noun
The castle was built to withstand a siege.
The city is in a state of siege.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2024
The song’s title is in reference to the recent siege of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University that ended with a confrontation between demonstrators and police that broke up the pro-Palestinian encampment.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 7 May 2024
The destruction of the hospital was followed by a two-week military operation and siege by the Israeli military, where at least 21 patients died, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 5 May 2024
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the U.S. increased sanctions on Iran’s theocratic government over the American Embassy siege, Tehran’s links to militant attacks, and other issues.
—Mehdi Fattahi, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 May 2024
In January 2023, thousands of supporters of Bolsonaro, inflamed by rhetoric and clinging to unfounded claims of fraud, laid siege to the country’s Congress, Supreme Court and presidential office, days after the inauguration of leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The arts scene in Germany — and especially Berlin — has been turned upside down by Hamas’s attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, and the siege and bombardment of Gaza.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Rare books and documents: Nothing has been off limits in the ongoing gang siege of Port-au-Prince: not hospitals, schools, police stations and not even rare books.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
However, those warnings came after the hospital had already come under siege, according to one witness.
—Abeer Salman, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 6 Jan. 2022
After that, the blacks could surround and siege King’s Landing and force the greens’ surrender.
—Erica Gonzales, ELLE, 23 Oct. 2022
Russia's military has reportedly moved 12 of 14 elite units Mariupol to siege the city.
—Fox News, 25 Apr. 2022
In the Ukraine conflict, reports of civilian casualties have dominated the headlines as Russian troops siege cities around the country.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2022
Noun
But of course, with many of the gods preoccupied with the siege of Olympus, there are new deities who offer their aid — including Apollo, Hephaestus, Hera, Hestia, and even the titaness Selene, who imbues players with the power of the moon for special abilities.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2024
The song’s title is in reference to the recent siege of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University that ended with a confrontation between demonstrators and police that broke up the pro-Palestinian encampment.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 7 May 2024
The destruction of the hospital was followed by a two-week military operation and siege by the Israeli military, where at least 21 patients died, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 5 May 2024
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the U.S. increased sanctions on Iran’s theocratic government over the American Embassy siege, Tehran’s links to militant attacks, and other issues.
—Mehdi Fattahi, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 May 2024
In January 2023, thousands of supporters of Bolsonaro, inflamed by rhetoric and clinging to unfounded claims of fraud, laid siege to the country’s Congress, Supreme Court and presidential office, days after the inauguration of leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The arts scene in Germany — and especially Berlin — has been turned upside down by Hamas’s attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, and the siege and bombardment of Gaza.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Rare books and documents: Nothing has been off limits in the ongoing gang siege of Port-au-Prince: not hospitals, schools, police stations and not even rare books.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
However, those warnings came after the hospital had already come under siege, according to one witness.
—Abeer Salman, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
While the attempt to siege the Capitol on Jan. 6. was foiled, the attack -- and the subsequent attempt to recast the narrative in the intervening months -- did not come without consequences, according to political scientist William Howell.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 6 Jan. 2022
After that, the blacks could surround and siege King’s Landing and force the greens’ surrender.
—Erica Gonzales, ELLE, 23 Oct. 2022
Russia's military has reportedly moved 12 of 14 elite units Mariupol to siege the city.
—Fox News, 25 Apr. 2022
In the Ukraine conflict, reports of civilian casualties have dominated the headlines as Russian troops siege cities around the country.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'siege.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near siege
Cite this Entry
“Siege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/siege. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
siege
noun1
: the placing of an army around a fortified place or city to force it to surrender
2
: a lasting attack (as of illness)
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