intercept
/ˌɪntəˈsept/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪntərˈsept/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-tər-ˈsept/ (ame, mw)
intercept — verb
- interceptpresent simple I / you / we / they
- interceptshe / she / it
- interceptedpast simple
- intercepting-ing form
1. to stop someone or something that is moving from one place to another before the
to stop someone or something that is moving from one place to another before they reach the place they are heading for
The police intercepted the stolen car before it reached the border crossing.
intercept + direct object (stolen car) — stop in transit
Fatima intercepted her younger brother at the door as he tried to sneak out with muddy shoes.
Customs officers at the airport intercepted a package that contained illegal animal products.
Tariq ran across the field and intercepted the messenger before the letter could be delivered.
The goalkeeper threw herself to the left and intercepted the ball just before it crossed the goal line.
- allow through
to let someone or something continue without interference
文法句型
intercept + noun phrase (a person/vehicle/object)
用法筆記
Frequently used in news reports about law enforcement stopping illegal shipments or vehicles in transit. The object is typically something unwanted or unauthorised that is in motion toward a destination.
常見錯誤
2. in sports such as football, basketball, or rugby, to catch or take control of a
in sports such as football, basketball, or rugby, to catch or take control of a ball or puck that a player from the opposing team has thrown or kicked
Emeka intercepted the quarterback's pass and sprinted forty yards into the end zone.
intercept + a pass — American football context
The defender jumped high and intercepted the basketball pass meant for the center player.
Rosa intercepted a risky sideways pass during the rugby match and ran toward the try line.
Nadia intercepted a careless throw near the basket and started a fast break in the opposite direction.
- receive
to catch a ball intended for your own team
文法句型
intercept + a pass / a throw / a ball
用法筆記
This sense is specific to team ball sports. The subject is a defensive player, and the object is always the ball or pass that the attacking side intended for a teammate. In American football, a quarterback who throws an intercepted pass is said to have 'thrown an interception.'
常見錯誤
3. to secretly receive an electronic message, phone call, or radio signal that was
to secretly receive an electronic message, phone call, or radio signal that was meant for someone else, often as part of surveillance or espionage
Security agents intercepted a phone call between the suspect and an unknown contact in another country.
intercept + phone call — surveillance context
The company's security team discovered that an outside group had been intercepting their internal emails for several months.
passive: had been intercepting — ongoing secret access
Wei picked up a faint radio signal that a listening station in the mountains had intercepted while monitoring the airwaves.
Deepa warned her team not to discuss the budget figures on the phone because the line might be intercepted.
- tap
specifically refers to secretly listening to phone calls; more informal
- eavesdrop on
suggests listening without technical equipment; less formal
文法句型
intercept + phone call / email / signal / message
用法筆記
Object refers to communications (calls, emails, radio transmissions, data streams). This sense strongly implies secrecy — the person whose communication is intercepted does not know it is happening. Common in espionage, journalism, and cybersecurity contexts.
常見錯誤
intercept — noun
1. the point where a line or curve on a graph meets one of the axes — for example,
the point where a line or curve on a graph meets one of the axes — for example, the x-intercept is where the line crosses the horizontal axis and the y-intercept is where it crosses the vertical axis
On a cost graph, the y-intercept shows the starting fee when the distance travelled is zero.
y-intercept — specific axis crossing point
Qing calculated the x-intercept of the profit curve by setting the equation to zero and solving for the break-even point.
The height-versus-time graph's y-intercept of three means the plant was three centimetres tall at the start.
Vikram plotted the company's monthly revenue and found where the curve crossed the x-axis at the break-even month.
- intersection point
more general; any crossing point between two lines, not just with axes
文法句型
x-intercept / y-intercept
the intercept of [graph/line]
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in mathematics and science. Often appears with a prefix specifying the axis: x-intercept (horizontal axis crossing) or y-intercept (vertical axis crossing). The term is countable: 'two intercepts,' 'no intercept.' Not to be confused with the verb 'intercept.'
2. an act of stopping someone or something while they are travelling from one place
an act of stopping someone or something while they are travelling from one place to another, or the situation that results from being stopped
The intercept of the illegal shipment by border police led to a major criminal investigation.
the intercept of [something] — noun phrase with of
The team celebrated their third intercept of the match, which helped them win the championship title.
The intercept of the stolen painting at the port was reported in all the local newspapers.
Both governments denied any involvement in the intercept of the diplomatic courier near the border town.
- interception
the standard sports term; more common than 'intercept' in that context
- seizure
implies legal or official taking; more forceful
文法句型
the intercept of [something]
[number] intercepts
用法筆記
In sports contexts, 'interception' is far more common than 'intercept' for this meaning. In law enforcement and security reporting, both 'intercept' and 'interception' are used. This noun is countable in sports contexts ('three intercepts') but often uncountable in general uses ('the intercept of goods').
3. a piece of information, such as a message, phone conversation, or radio signal,
a piece of information, such as a message, phone conversation, or radio signal, that has been secretly obtained by someone who was not the intended recipient
The encrypted intercepts revealed the location where the spy network planned to meet next.
encrypted intercepts — plural noun for captured data
Analysts spent several weeks decoding the radio intercepts from the satellite ground station.
Fumi reviewed the naval intercepts and identified the position of the missing research vessel.
The news article quoted from classified military intercepts, triggering a public debate about surveillance.
- intercepted message
more transparent; avoids the nominalised form
- intelligence
broader; refers to any collected secret information
文法句型
classified intercepts
radio intercepts
用法筆記
Almost always appears in plural form ('intercepts') when referring to collected materials as a body of evidence. In singular form it refers to one specific captured item. Common in intelligence, journalism, and military contexts. Often modified by adjectives like 'classified,' 'encrypted,' 'naval,' or 'diplomatic.'