Standard Lemma guide

immobilize

verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 M OW1 B AH0 L AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To render motionless; to stop moving or stop from moving.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • It is best to immobilize the injury until a doctor can examine it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To render incapable of action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To modify a surface such that things will not stick to it

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To tie up a capital: make a capital investment that makes that capital unavailable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: business, finance

Examples

  • Don't immobilize your capital in aging accounts.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

cause to be unable to move

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The sudden storm immobilized the traffic

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: immobilise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: restrict, curtail, curb, cut back

Narrower terms: paralyze, paralyse, stun, stupefy

6

verb

Meaning 6

prohibit the conversion or use of (assets)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Blocked funds
  • Freeze the assets of this hostile government

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: freeze, block, immobilise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: withhold, keep back

7

verb

Meaning 7

convert (assets) into fixed capital

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: immobilise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: convert

8

verb

Meaning 8

make defenseless

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: immobilise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

9

verb

Meaning 9

to hold fast or prevent from moving

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The child was pinned under the fallen tree

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: trap, pin, immobilise

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

hold as reserve or withdraw from circulation; of capital

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: immobilise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: withhold, keep back

History

Etymology

From French immobiliser, equivalent to immobile + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

36 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: імабілізаваць (imabilizavacʹ) — render motionless
  • Belarusian: абезрухо́ўліваць (abjezruxówlivacʹ) — render motionless
  • Belarusian: абезрухо́віць (abjezruxóvicʹ) — render motionless
  • Bulgarian: обездвижвам (obezdvižvam) — render motionless
  • Catalan: immobilitzar — render motionless
  • Danish: immobilisere — render motionless
  • Dutch: immobiliseren — render motionless
  • Dutch: vastzetten — render motionless
  • Finnish: tehdä liikkumattomaksi — render motionless
  • Finnish: tehdä liikuntakyvyttömäksi — render motionless
  • Finnish: lamauttaa — render motionless
  • Finnish: immobilisoida — render motionless
  • French: immobiliser — render motionless
  • Galician: inmobilizar — render motionless
  • Galician: entalar — render motionless
  • German: unbeweglich machen — render motionless
  • German: immobilisieren — render motionless
  • Greek: ακινητοποιώ (akinitopoió) — render motionless
  • Hungarian: rögzít — render motionless
  • Italian: immobilizzare — render motionless
  • Māori: mātāpou — render motionless
  • Piedmontese: imobilisé — render motionless
  • Polish: unieruchamiać — render motionless
  • Polish: unieruchomić — render motionless
  • Portuguese: imobilizar — render motionless
  • Romanian: imobiliza — render motionless
  • Russian: иммобилизовать (immobilizovatʹ) — render motionless
  • Russian: обездви́живать (obezdvíživatʹ) — render motionless
  • Russian: обездви́жить (obezdvížitʹ) — render motionless
  • Slovak: znehybniť — render motionless
  • Slovak: znehybňovať — render motionless
  • Slovak: imobilizovať — render motionless
  • Spanish: inmovilizar — render motionless
  • Ukrainian: іммобілізувати (immobilizuvaty) — render motionless
  • Ukrainian: знерухо́млювати (zneruxómljuvaty) — render motionless
  • Ukrainian: знерухо́мити (zneruxómyty) — render motionless