disapproval To commandeer something owned by someone else means to take charge of it so that you can use it. The hijacker commandeered the plane on a domestic flight. = appropriate. to take someone else's property for your own use, especially during a war (kommandeer, from commander , from comander; COMMAND)
take arbitrarily or by force; "The Cubans commandeered the plane and flew it to Miami"
If the armed forces commandeer a vehicle or building owned by someone else, they officially take charge of it so that they can use it. The soldiers commandeered vehicles in the capital and occupied the television station They drove in convoy round the city in commandeered cars. = requisition