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
Any of the dogs seen from that property at large were to be immediately impounded.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
The longtime Trump ally and budget guru worked closely with Musk on the initiative, leading efforts to cut agency regulations and pushing a controversial idea in favor of Trump’s authority to impound funds.
—Nik Popli, Time, 29 May 2025
But project managers have learned that most of their funding was removed by a continuing congressional budget resolution earlier this spring and much of what remained is impounded by the White House budget office.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025
They were subsequently impounded and euthanized, including the quarantined dog, according to KC Pet Project.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impound
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Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
The longtime Trump ally and budget guru worked closely with Musk on the initiative, leading efforts to cut agency regulations and pushing a controversial idea in favor of Trump’s authority to impound funds.
—Nik Popli, Time, 29 May 2025
But project managers have learned that most of their funding was removed by a continuing congressional budget resolution earlier this spring and much of what remained is impounded by the White House budget office.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025
They were subsequently impounded and euthanized, including the quarantined dog, according to KC Pet Project.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impound
Cite this Entry
“Impound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impound. Accessed 18 Jun. 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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