26984 words

ransom

4 definitions • 7 examples
1
a large amount of money that is demanded in exchange for someone who has been taken prisoner, or sometimes for an animal:

Examples:

ransom demand/note Family members said they received ransom demands/notes the day after the boy went missing.
demand a ransom for They demanded a huge ransom for the return of the little girl whom they had kidnapped.
hold someone/something to/for ransom The gang held the racehorse to/for ransom.
2
to pay money in order to set someone free:

Examples:

ransom someone for something Her father ransomed her for a million dollars.
3
a sum of money demanded in exchange for someone or something that has been taken:

Examples:

[ C ] The kidnappers demanded a huge ransom.
[ U ] The man’s brother was held for ransom.
4
to free someone who has been taken away by paying money:

Examples:

The executive was ransomed for a million dollars.

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