What does 押さえる mean?
押さえる is a Japanese verb meaning “to pin down, to hold down, to press down, to hold in place, to hold steady to cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand), to clutch (a body part in pain), to press (a body part) to get a hold of, to obtain, to seize, to catch, to arrest” in English. It can also be translated as “to cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand), to get a hold of, to grasp (a point)” depending on context. It is written as 押さえる in kanji, おさえる in hiragana, and osaeru in romaji. This word is part of JLPT N2 vocabulary.
Example sentences
このはしごをしっかり押さえてくれ。
Hold this ladder steady.
警察はその強盗の首を押さえた。
The police seized the robber by the neck.
私は彼が私の悪口を言っているところを押さえた。
I caught him speaking ill of me.