impound
verb
im·pound
im-ˈpau̇nd 
impounded; impounding; impounds
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
Jonathan Weiner2
: 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 truck was impounded and the suspects, who were also wearing CAL-Fire T-shirts with helmets and radios, were arrested.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
The vehicle was impounded and the suspects were arrested for impersonating firefighters and entering an evacuation zone.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
In addition to the summonses, 10 vehicles were seized during the operation — eight of which had suspended registrations, and two that were impounded for other reasons.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2025
That industrial plant, now decommissioned and largely demolished, spawned Lady Bird Lake — then Town Lake — which was impounded in order to provide water to cool the turbines.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for impound 
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Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
The vehicle was impounded and the suspects were arrested for impersonating firefighters and entering an evacuation zone.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
In addition to the summonses, 10 vehicles were seized during the operation — eight of which had suspended registrations, and two that were impounded for other reasons.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2025
That industrial plant, now decommissioned and largely demolished, spawned Lady Bird Lake — then Town Lake — which was impounded in order to provide water to cool the turbines.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for impound
Dictionary Entries Near impound
Cite this Entry
“Impound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impound. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
-ˈpau̇n(d)-mənt
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
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