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

That was before Hoover Dam impounded the river and forever changed everything downstream. —Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2024

Malinowski was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail, and his vessel was impounded, police said. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024

Nixon wielded his monarchical power covertly—most notoriously during Watergate—and brazenly, claiming that Article II of the Constitution empowered him to impound funds already allocated by Congress and to conduct widespread, warrantless wiretaps. —Duncan Hosie / Made By History, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024

Unpaid creditors would seek to impound the oil giant’s global assets: its tankers, refineries, shiploads of fuel, and other properties. —Michael Shifter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2016

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