immobilize

/ɪˈməʊbəlaɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz/ (ame, mw)

immobilize — verb

  • immobilizepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • immobilizeshe / she / it
  • immobilizedpast simple
  • immobilizing-ing form

1. to hold a person, animal, body part, or machine so firmly in place that it canno

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to hold a person, animal, body part, or machine so firmly in place that it cannot move at all, usually by using force, a device, or an injury.

例句

The paramedics carefully immobilized Soraya's neck with a foam collar before lifting her.

immobilize + body part with + device

A heavy steel boot was used to immobilize the illegally parked car outside the courthouse.

passive: be used to immobilize

同義詞
  • paralyze

    implies loss of muscle control from injury, drug, or emotion; not always by an external device

  • restrain

    broader — covers holding back as well as stopping movement; often used of people resisting

  • pinion

    literary; means to hold someone's arms tightly so they cannot move

反義詞
  • release

    to let something move freely again after it was held

  • mobilize

    to put something into active movement, especially troops or resources

文法句型

immobilize + object

be immobilized by + cause

用法筆記

Frequently passive, especially with causes like fear, pain, shock, or a medical condition (be immobilized by fear / by a stroke). When transitive and active, the object is typically a body part, vehicle, animal, or piece of equipment held in place by an external device.

常見錯誤

❌Eri immobilized in the cast for six weeks.
✅Eri's wrist was immobilized in the cast for six weeks.
💡needs an object (the body part), or use passive with the body part as subject.
❌The crowd was immobilized to leave the stadium.
✅The crowd was unable to leave the stadium.
💡'immobilize' means physically prevent movement, not block a planned action; use 'prevent' or 'be unable to' for blocked intentions.

2. in finance, to lock money or property in a form that cannot easily be spent, sol

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

in finance, to lock money or property in a form that cannot easily be spent, sold, or moved — for example by tying it up in long-term holdings or restricting its use by law.

例句

The new tax rules effectively immobilized millions of dollars in offshore accounts.

immobilize + sum of money + in + location/instrument

Sanctions immobilized the central bank's foreign reserves for over a year.

subject is a legal instrument (sanctions, court order)

同義詞
  • freeze

    more common; specifically blocks access to an account by official order

  • tie up

    informal; suggests money is committed to one use and cannot be spent on others

  • lock up

    informal equivalent of 'tie up' in long-term assets

反義詞
  • liquidate

    to convert assets back into spendable cash

  • release

    to make blocked funds available again

文法句型

immobilize + money/capital/assets

用法筆記

Subject is usually a law, sanction, regulation, or financial decision; object is money, capital, reserves, or assets. Distinguish from sense 1 by context: sense 2 never describes physical objects or bodies, only financial holdings.

常見錯誤

❌The thief immobilized the savings.
✅The court order immobilized the savings.
💡this sense needs a legal, regulatory, or institutional subject, not a personal actor.