(law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
"The police launched an immediate search after receiving credible reports of a kidnapping involving a young tourist held captive for three days."
The crime of taking a person against their will, sometimes for ransom.
"The police launched an urgent manhunt after discovering that the CEO had been kidnapped from his office while waiting for lunch."
present participle of kidnap
"The police are racing to stop the kidnapping that is currently unfolding in the downtown alleyway."