impound

verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

impounded; impounding; impounds

transitive verb

1

a

: to shut up in or as if in a pound : confine

b

: to seize and hold in the custody of the law

c

: to take possession of

she was dismissed and her manuscript impounded

—Jonathan Weiner

2

: to collect and confine (water) in or as if in a reservoir

Examples of impound in a Sentence

The police impounded her car because it was illegally parked.

impound evidence for a trial

Recent Examples on the Web

The measure provides that dogs picked up on the loose would be impounded for four days and then destroyed or otherwise disposed of if not claimed. —Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

In a video recorded and posted on Facebook, Northern can be heard yelling his vehicle would not be impounded. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025

The Supreme Court ruled in 1975 in Train v. City of New York that the president had no power to overrule Congress by impounding funding. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2025

Trump plans to renominate former OMB Director Russell Vought, who is a driving force behind controversial ideas such as impounding federal funds rather than spending them as Congress directed. —Bridget C.e. Dooling, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

impound

verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

1

: to shut up in or as if in an enclosed place

2

: to seize and hold in the hands of the law

impound evidence for a trial

impoundment

-ˈpau̇n(d)-mənt

noun

Legal Definition

impound

transitive verb

im·​pound im-ˈpau̇nd 

: to take control of in the custody of the law or by legal authority

impound a vehicle

the police impounded the dwelling until the search warrant was obtained

impoundment noun