ransom
noun
ran·som
| \ ˈran(t)-səm
\
\
Definition of ransom
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity
2
: the act of ransoming
ransom
verb
ransomed;
ransoming;
ransoms
Definition of ransom (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: to deliver especially from sin or its penalty
2
: to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price
Ransom
biographical name
Ran·som
| \ ˈran(t)-səm
\
\
Definition of Ransom (Entry 3 of 3)
John Crowe 1888–1974 American educator and poet
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of ransom in a Sentence
Noun
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one million dollars. The family is willing to pay ransom for his release. The ransom note explained the terms under which she would be released.Verb
He was held captive for a week before he was ransomed and returned to his family. the prince emptied the treasury to ransom his son from the kidnappers
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Nayeri, 40, is being tried on charges of kidnapping for ransom, aggravated mayhem, torture and burglary in the 2012 abduction of the man and his female roommate by masked captors. — Julia Sclafani, Daily Pilot, "Defense claims Hossein Nayeri’s ex-wife is a liar working with police to frame him in kidnap and torture case," 9 Aug. 2019 District officials did not specify the total cost of regaining access, identify the insurer or confirm that any of the money was for ransom, the newspaper reported. — New York Times, "Hackers’ Latest Target: School Districts," 28 July 2019 The bag's owner reported the theft, and the plainclothes officers were sent to the site of the rendezvous to allegedly turn over the bag for ransom, the statement said. — Giada Zampano And Frances D'emilio, chicagotribune.com, "Italian officials say 2 American teenagers confess in slaying of Rome policeman after drug deal gone wrong," 27 July 2019 The jury found Lin guilty of kidnapping for ransom, a felony that carries a sentence of seven years to life in prison, following five hours of deliberation. — Nico Savidge, The Mercury News, "‘Mastermind’ of 1995 Hillsborough kidnapping found guilty," 12 July 2019 A week before Lake City officials agreed to pay the ransom, council members in Riviera Beach, another Florida city struck by ransomware, made the same call. — Ian Duncan, baltimoresun.com, "As Florida cities use insurance to pay $1 million in ransoms to hackers, Baltimore and Maryland weigh getting covered," 5 July 2019 The hijacker ultimately parachuted from the Boeing 727 with $200,000 in ransom, never to be seen again. — oregonlive.com, "D.B. Cooper search leads to Bachelor Island; ex-FBI agent says suspect will get away with it ‘unless he confesses’," 27 June 2019 Norwegian media had previously reported that a ransom of $10.3 million (9 million Euros), to be paid in cryptocurrency, was demanded by alleged kidnappers. — Fox News, "Norwegian tycoon's wife abduction may have been faked, was likely killed, police say," 26 June 2019 Once migrants get into the vehicle, the drivers take them to an undisclosed location and dial every American number on their abductee’s contact list in an effort to fetch the highest ransom possible. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Asylum seekers targeted by kidnappers, extortionists and traffickers while waiting in Mexico," 29 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
After a shady investor steals their new invention, Nick, Dale and Kurt conspire to kidnap the man’s adult son and ransom him to pay off their debts. — Los Angeles Times, "Movies on TV this week Sept. 1 - 7, 2019: John Wayne in ‘The Searchers’ and more," 30 Aug. 2019 Heinkel and Borelli are accused in a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in late March of improperly impounding Bird’s scooters and then ransoming them back to the $2 billion company. — Amy Martyn, The Verge, "They said you could leave electric scooters anywhere — then the repo men struck back," 24 July 2019 Seeking safe harbor, many instead end up incarcerated, hospitalized, ransomed, stranded, or sold into servitude. — Matthew Wolfe, Harper's magazine, "Without a Trace," 10 Feb. 2019 Her main contact is with a wealthy woman named Charlotte (Edie Falco), whose own son was captured and later successfully ransomed. — Soren Andersen, The Seattle Times, "‘Viper Club’: Susan Sarandon brings grace, heartbreaking power to hostage drama," 30 Oct. 2018 This financial ransoming ultimately left Haiti indebted to French and American banks until after World War II. — Dana Snitzky, Longreads, "Is This the Most Crowded Island in the World? (And Why That Question Matters)," 20 Feb. 2018 Heinkel and Borelli are accused in a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in late March of improperly impounding Bird’s scooters and then ransoming them back to the $2 billion company. — Amy Martyn, The Verge, "They said you could leave electric scooters anywhere — then the repo men struck back," 24 July 2019 Louis was ransomed and the original plan had to be abandoned. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Fear of Foreign Food May Have Led to the Death of This Crusader King," 26 June 2019 Seeking safe harbor, many instead end up incarcerated, hospitalized, ransomed, stranded, or sold into servitude. — Matthew Wolfe, Harper's magazine, "Without a Trace," 10 Feb. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ransom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for ransom
ransom
noun
English Language Learners Definition of ransom
(Entry 1 of 2)
: money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped
ransom
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of ransom (Entry 2 of 2)
: to pay money in order to free (a person who has been captured or kidnapped)
See the full definition for ransom in the English Language Learners Dictionary