intercept
To stop or catch something before it reaches where it is going.
intercept in a sentence
- Maya leapt sideways and intercepted the pass meant for the other team's striker.
- The spies planned to intercept the secret letter before it ever reached the castle.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to intercept?
- Acatch
- Ballow
- Cpass
- Dmiss
Show the answer
A: catch. The other three mean the opposite of intercept.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to intercept?
- Acatch
- Bblock
- Cmiss
- Dstop
Show the answer
C: miss. The other three mean nearly the same as intercept.
Words that mean something similar
catch, block, stop
Words that mean the opposite
miss, allow, pass
More words about movement & action
- jaunt: A short trip taken for fun.
- jostle: To push and bump against people in a crowd.
- laborious: Needing a lot of hard, slow work.
- languid: Slow, relaxed and without energy.
- leisurely: Slow, relaxed and unhurried.
- limber: Bending and moving easily.
- lithe: Moving in a smooth, graceful and bendy way.
- loiter: To hang around a place with nothing to do.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test