Kidnap means to take someone away by force. People do this to get money or because of a crime. It is illegal.
The man tried to kidnap the child.
They kidnapped the person for ransom.
Kidnap as a noun means the crime or action of taking a person by force. People do this to get money or for bad reasons.
The police arrested him for the kidnap.
Kidnap is a serious crime everywhere.
This meaning is about taking people for political reasons, like to force a change. It is a special kind of kidnapping in conflicts or wars.
The group kidnapped soldiers to make a deal.
They kidnapped the leader during conflict.
In a figurative way, kidnap means to take someone’s attention or feelings suddenly. It's like their mind is held strongly.
The movie kidnapped the audience’s attention.
Her story kidnapped their hearts quickly.
This meaning is about taking vehicles like cars or ships by force. It is similar to hijacking and is illegal.
They kidnapped the ship and demanded money.
The criminals kidnapped the car at night.
Sometimes, people say kidnap as a joke when they quickly take someone, like a child, without harm. It is a playful meaning.
He joked and tried to kidnap his little sister.
They kidnapped their friend for fun.
