siege
gb/sˈid͡ʒ/ us/sˈid͡ʒ/
B2
English
~ 3800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
Military blockade of a place
When an army surrounds a place and stops food and other supplies from going in, to make the people inside give up.
Usage pattern:
[place] is under siege
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'siege' with 'seat' due to similar pronunciation, but 'siege' relates to military action.
Synonyms
blockade (Often used for cutting off access to a port or area; can be non-military.)
Antonyms
relief (In military terms, the act of ending a siege by sending help to those besieged.)
Collocations
lay siege
|under siege
|siege warfare
|break the siege
|end the siege
Themes
war
|history
|military
|law
|politics
Examples
- The city was under siege for six months before it finally fell.
- The rebels laid siege to the capital.
- During the siege, food became extremely scarce.
- The army broke the siege after reinforcements arrived.
- The medieval castle was built to withstand long sieges.
Learner examples
- The army put the city under siege.
- The castle was under siege for many days.
- They could not get food because of the siege.
- The king's soldiers ended the siege.
- Many people were hungry during the siege.
Noun
B2
state
2
Prolonged attack or pressure
A long time when someone or something has many problems or is attacked again and again.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is under siege
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense always refers to war; in fact, it is often used metaphorically for ongoing problems or criticism.
Synonyms
harassment (Focuses more on repeated annoyance or aggression; not necessarily as intense or organized.)
Antonyms
support (Represents the opposite situation of receiving help instead of attack or criticism.)
Collocations
media siege
|political siege
|under siege
|siege mentality
Themes
media
|politics
|life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The politician has been under siege from the press over the scandal.
- The company is under siege from competitors offering lower prices.
- After the incident, she felt under siege from her critics.
- The mayor faced a media siege after the controversial decision.
Learner examples
- The school was under siege from angry parents.
- He felt under siege at work.
- The company is under siege from new rivals.
- She was under siege from reporters.
Grammar
Dictionary form
siege
IPA
GB/sˈid͡ʒ/
US/sˈid͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
siege (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (siege)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: siege
- Plural: siege, sieges
Word family
Expressions
break the siege
1/bɹˈeɪk ðə sˈid͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
End a blockade situation
To stop a situation where a place is surrounded and cut off, usually by sending help or fighting back.
Examples
- They managed to break the siege after reinforcements arrived.
- The relief army broke the siege within two days.
lay siege to
1/lˈeɪ sˈid͡ʒ tə/
fixed phrase
Begin surrounding to capture
To start surrounding a place with an army and stop supplies from entering so you can take control of it.
Examples
- The army laid siege to the fortress at dawn.
- Rebels are laying siege to the border town.
under siege
1/ˈʌndɚ sˈid͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
Surrounded or under attack
Being surrounded by enemies or having many problems and attacks for a long time.
Examples
- The old fort is under siege by enemy troops.
- The minister has been under siege from journalists all week.