siege
C1Formal/Historical/Figurative
Definition
Meaning
A military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside.
Any prolonged, persistent, or troublesome attempt to overcome resistance or gain something, especially through pressure or isolation; a sustained period of difficulty or affliction (e.g., a siege of illness).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a count noun (under siege, lift a siege, lay siege to). Its figurative use extends the military concept to contexts like politics (a siege mentality), illness, or legal pressure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or core meaning differences. US media may use it more readily in figurative contexts (e.g., 'siege of the Capitol'). The phrase 'state of siege' is more common in international/legal contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes determination, endurance, and isolation. In UK historical context, it strongly evokes medieval castles. In modern US discourse, it can connote law enforcement operations (e.g., Waco siege).
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, slightly higher in UK due to richer medieval/military history in common discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[lay/begin] + siege + to + [town/fortress]be + under + siege (from/by)[withstand/endure] + a + [adj] + siegethe siege + of + [place]break + the siegeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lay siege to”
- “under siege”
- “siege mentality”
- “a state of siege”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorically used for hostile takeovers or intense competitive pressure: 'The company was under siege from activist investors.'
Academic
Used in history, political science, and military studies to describe historical events or strategies (e.g., 'the Siege of Leningrad').
Everyday
Figurative use for persistent troubles: 'I've had a siege of migraines this week.' Also in news: 'The embassy was under siege by protesters.'
Technical
In military doctrine, a specific operational method. In law, 'siege' can refer to a specific crime in international law (e.g., war crime of besieging a civilian area).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- siege conditions
- siege artillery
American English
- siege tactics
- siege weaponry
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The castle was under siege.
- The siege lasted for many days.
- The army laid siege to the enemy fortress.
- After a three-month siege, the city surrendered.
- The government, facing a siege of criticism, decided to change its policy.
- During the siege, food and water became desperately scarce.
- The protracted legal siege drained the company's resources and morale.
- Historians analyse the siege not just as a military event, but as a social catastrophe for the trapped populace.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SEEge' – you SEE the enemy surrounding you, but you can't get out.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTIES ARE SIEGES (e.g., 'under siege from creditors'), ENDURANCE IS WITHSTANDING A SIEGE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque with 'осада' for non-military contexts; 'blockade' or 'pressure' might be better. 'Siege mentality' translates directly as 'осадное мышление'. The verb is 'to besiege' (осаждать), not 'to siege'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'They sieged the castle.' Correct: 'They besieged the castle.'). Confusing 'siege' (event/state) with 'surround' (action). Misspelling as 'seige'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a CORRECT use of the word 'siege'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'siege' is a noun. The verb form is 'besiege'.
A siege typically involves surrounding a specific place (like a city) to force surrender, often with direct assault. A blockade is usually a naval or strategic isolation of a wider area (like a coastline) to prevent movement of goods/people, not necessarily aiming for immediate surrender.
Extremely rarely. Its core meaning is military conflict and hardship. Figurative uses (siege of questions, siege of illness) are also negative or stressful. A 'successful siege' is positive only for the attacking force.
It describes a shared feeling of persecution and defensiveness within a group, leading them to perceive outsiders as enemies and to prioritise group solidarity, often resulting in paranoia and resistance to external ideas.
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