Meaning & use
seize the day
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Meanings
phraseidiom
To make full use of the present time and its chances, without putting things off until later.
Grammar: The verb changes in a sentence: she seized the day; let us seize the day.
Patterns
- seize the day
You are only young once, so seize the day and apply for that trip.
He seized the day and started his own bakery.
On the first sunny weekend, we seized the day and went hiking.
phrasefixed phraseinformal
Used as a motto or slogan that urges people to act now and enjoy life instead of worrying about tomorrow.
Grammar: Often spoken as advice, and it can be a noun phrase: a seize-the-day attitude.
Patterns
- a seize-the-day attitude
"Seize the day!" the speaker told the graduating class.
Her seize-the-day attitude made every weekend an adventure.
The poster simply said, 'Seize the day.'
Word forms
| past tense | seized the day |
|---|---|
| -ing form | seizing the day |
Common combinations
- decide to seize the day
- After the diagnosis, she decided to seize the day and travel.
- urge someone to seize the day
- The coach urged the team to seize the day.
- seize the day and
- Seize the day and call her before it gets too late.
- a seize-the-day mindset
- A seize-the-day mindset helped him try new things.
- learn to seize the day
- Retirement taught him to seize the day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- carpe diem
- Carpe diem is the Latin source of the phrase and sounds more literary or formal.
- make the most of it
- Make the most of it is general advice and does not carry the urgency of acting right now.
- live for the moment
- Live for the moment emphasizes enjoying the present and may suggest carelessness about the future.
- strike while the iron is hot
- This idiom stresses taking quick action when conditions are right, not enjoying life as a whole.
Opposites
Word family
- seize verb
- to take hold of suddenly or take an opportunity
- seizure noun
- the act of taking by force, or a sudden medical attack
- carpe diem phrase
- Latin for seize the day
Commonly confused: seize the day or seize the moment?
seize the day vs seize the moment
Seize the moment is nearly the same but points to one specific chance, while seize the day suggests a whole attitude to life.
Practice
Instead of waiting for a perfect time, Priya decided to ______ and sign up for the marathon.
Choose one answer.
Seize the day means to act now and make the most of the present. Miss the boat means to lose a chance, kill time means to pass time idly, and beat around the bush means to avoid the point.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “seize the day”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.