Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense restrains, present participle restraining, past tense, past participle restrained
1. verb
If you restrain someone, you stop them from doing what they intended or wanted to do, usually by using your physical strength.
Wally gripped my arm, partly to restrain me and partly to reassure me. [VERB noun]
One onlooker had to be restrained by police. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: hold back, hold, control, check More Synonyms of restrain
2. verb
If you restrain an emotion or you restrainyourself from doing something, you prevent yourself from showing that emotion or doing what you wanted or intended to do.
She was unable to restrain her desperate anger. [VERB noun]
Unable to restrain herself, she rose and went to the phone. [VERB noun]
She wanted to ask, 'Aren't you angry with him?' But she restrained herself from doingso. [VERB noun + from]
Synonyms: control, keep in, limit, govern More Synonyms of restrain
3. verb
To restrain something that is growing or increasing means to prevent it from getting too large.
The radical 500-day plan was very clear on how it intended to try to restrain inflation. [VERB noun]
In the 1970s, the government tried to restrain corruption. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of restrain
restrain in British English
(rɪˈstreɪn)
verb(transitive)
1.
to hold (someone) back from some action, esp by force
2.
to deprive (someone) of liberty, as by imprisonment
3.
to limit or restrict
Derived forms
restrainable (reˈstrainable)
adjective
Word origin
C14 restreyne, from Old French restreindre, from Latin rēstringere to draw back tightly, from re- + stringere to draw, bind; see strain1
restrain in American English
(rɪˈstreɪn)
verb transitive
1.
to hold back from action; check; suppress; curb
2.
to keep under control
3.
to deprive of physical liberty, as by shackling, arresting, etc.
4.
to limit; restrict
SYNONYMY NOTE: restrain, the term of broadest application in this list, suggests the use of strong forceor authority either in preventing, or in suppressing and controlling, some action[try to restrain your zeal]; curb, check, bridle derive their current implications from the various uses of a horse's harness, , curb implying a sudden, sharp action to bring something under control [to curb one's tongue], check implying a slowing up of action or progress [to check inflationary trends], and bridle suggesting a holding in of emotion, feelings, etc. [to bridle one's envy]; inhibit, as used in psychology, implies a suppressing or repressing of some action, thought,or emotion [her natural verve had become inhibited]
OPPOSITE: free
Derived forms
restrainable (reˈstrainable)
adjective
restrainedly (reˈstrainedly)
adverb
Word origin
ME restreinen < OFr restreindre < L restringere < re-, back + stringere, to draw tight: see strict
Examples of 'restrain' in a sentence
restrain
Scores more protesters were restrained by police while waving trade union banners and shouting abuse.
The Sun (2010)
It took six police officers to restrain him.
The Sun (2012)
He tried to fight his way into the home but had to be restrained by police officers.
The Sun (2012)
In general the police were restrained.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Do not restrain legs and arms, or put anything in their mouth.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Inflation was restrained not because of structural changes in the economy but by the effect of inexpensive Chinese imports.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
restrain
British English: restrain VERB
If you restrain someone, you stop them from doing what they intended or wanted to do, usually by using your physical strength.
He gripped my arm, partly to restrain me and partly to reassure me.
American English: restrain
Brazilian Portuguese: reprimir
Chinese: 制止
European Spanish: contener
French: contenir
German: zurückhalten
Italian: trattenere
Japanese: 引き止める
Korean: 제지하다
European Portuguese: reprimir
Latin American Spanish: contener
Chinese translation of 'restrain'
restrain
(rɪsˈtreɪn)
vt
[person]阻止 (zǔzhǐ)
[curiosity, anger]抑制 (yìzhì)
[growth, inflation]遏制 (èzhì)
to restrain sb from doing sth阻止某人做某事 (zǔzhǐ mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
to restrain o.s. from doing sth克制自己做某事 (kèzhì zìjǐ zuò mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to hold (someone) back from some action
He grabbed my arm, partly to restrain me.
Synonyms
hold back
hold
control
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
contain
The city authorities said the curfew had contained the violence.
prevent
We took steps to prevent it happening.
These methods prevent pregnancy.
restrict
The shoulder straps restrict movement.
handicap
Greater levels of stress may seriously handicap some students.
confine
curb
He must learn to curb that temper of his.
hamper
I was hampered by a lack of information.
rein
harness
subdue
He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
constrain
I was constrained by family commitments.
curtail
bridle
I must learn to bridle my tongue.
debar
keep under control
have on a tight leash
straiten
Opposites
help
,
encourage
,
assist
,
incite
,
urge on
,
gee up
2 (verb)
Definition
to limit or restrict
She was unable to restrain her desperate anger.
Synonyms
control
Try to control that temper of yours.
keep in
limit
He limited payments on the country's foreign debt.
govern
Try to govern your temper.
suppress
She surpressed a smile at the thought.
inhibit
buildings which inhibit the supply of light and air
repress
People who repress their emotions risk having nightmares.
muzzle
He complained of being muzzled by the chairman.
keep under control
3 (verb)
Definition
to deprive (someone) of liberty
Police restrained her on July 28.
Synonyms
imprison
He was imprisoned for 18 months on charges of anti-state agitation.
hold
the return of two seamen held on spying charges
arrest
Seven people were arrested for minor offences.
jail
He was jailed for twenty years.
bind
Bind the ends of the card together with thread.
chain
We were kept in a cell, chained to the wall.
confine
detain
He was arrested and detained for questioning.
tie up
lock up
fetter
He would not be fettered by bureaucracy.
manacle
His hands were manacled behind his back.
pinion
His arms were pinioned against his sides.
Opposites
free
,
release
,
liberate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arrest
Definition
to take (a person) into custody
Seven people were arrested for minor offences.
Synonyms
capture,
catch,
lift (slang),
nick (slang, British),
seize,
run in (slang),
nail (informal),
bust (informal),
collar (informal),
take,
detain,
pinch (informal),
nab (informal),
apprehend,
take prisoner,
take into custody,
lay hold of,
feel your collar (slang),
cop (slang)
in the sense of bind
Definition
to make secure, such as with a rope
Bind the ends of the card together with thread.
Synonyms
tie,
unite,
join,
stick,
secure,
attach,
wrap,
rope,
knot,
strap,
lash,
glue,
tie up,
hitch,
paste,
fasten,
truss,
make fast
in the sense of bridle
Definition
to restrain
I must learn to bridle my tongue.
Synonyms
curb,
control,
master,
govern,
moderate,
restrain,
rein,
subdue,
repress,
constrain,
keep in check,
check,
keep a tight rein on,
keep on a string
Synonyms of 'restrain'
restrain
Explore 'restrain' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of chain
Definition
to restrict, fasten, or bind with or as if with a chain
We were kept in a cell, chained to the wall.
Synonyms
bind,
confine,
restrain,
handcuff,
shackle,
tether,
fetter,
manacle,
gyve (archaic)
in the sense of check
Definition
to slow the growth or progress of
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
Synonyms
stop,
control,
limit,
arrest,
delay,
halt,
curb,
bar,
restrain,
inhibit,
rein,
thwart,
hinder,
repress,
obstruct,
retard,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
nip in the bud,
put a spoke in someone's wheel
in the sense of confine
Synonyms
hold back,
bind,
bound,
restrain,
repress,
clip someone's wings,
straiten
in the sense of constrain
Definition
to limit, restrict, or inhibit
I was constrained by family commitments.
Synonyms
restrict,
confine,
curb,
restrain,
rein,
constrict,
hem in,
straiten,
check,
chain
in the sense of contain
Definition
to prevent from spreading or going beyond fixed limits
The city authorities said the curfew had contained the violence.
Synonyms
restrain,
control,
hold in,
curb,
suppress,
hold back,
stifle,
repress,
keep a tight rein on
in the sense of curb
Definition
to control or restrain
He must learn to curb that temper of his.
Synonyms
restrain,
control,
check,
contain,
restrict,
moderate,
suppress,
inhibit,
subdue,
hinder,
repress,
constrain,
retard,
impede,
muzzle,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
keep a tight rein on
in the sense of detain
Definition
to force (someone) to stay
He was arrested and detained for questioning.
Synonyms
hold,
arrest,
confine,
restrain,
imprison,
intern,
take prisoner,
take into custody,
hold in custody
in the sense of fetter
Definition
to prevent from behaving freely and naturally
He would not be fettered by bureaucracy.
Synonyms
restrict,
bind,
confine,
curb,
restrain,
hamstring,
hamper,
encumber,
clip someone's wings,
trammel,
straiten
in the sense of govern
Try to govern your temper.
Synonyms
restrain,
control,
check,
contain,
master,
discipline,
regulate,
curb,
inhibit,
tame,
subdue,
get the better of,
bridle,
hold in check,
keep a tight rein on
in the sense of hamper
Definition
to make it difficult for (someone or something) to move or progress
I was hampered by a lack of information.
Synonyms
hinder,
handicap,
hold up,
prevent,
restrict,
frustrate,
curb,
slow down,
restrain,
hamstring,
interfere with,
cramp,
thwart,
obstruct,
impede,
hobble,
fetter,
encumber,
trammel
Additional synonyms
in the sense of handicap
Definition
to make it difficult for (someone) to do something
Greater levels of stress may seriously handicap some students.
Synonyms
hinder,
limit,
restrict,
burden,
hamstring,
hamper,
hold back,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
encumber,
place at a disadvantage
in the sense of hinder
Definition
to get in the way of (someone or something)
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
Synonyms
obstruct,
stop,
check,
block,
prevent,
arrest,
delay,
oppose,
frustrate,
handicap,
interrupt,
slow down,
deter,
hamstring,
hamper,
thwart,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
stymie,
encumber,
throw a spanner in the works,
trammel,
hold up or back
in the sense of hold
the return of two seamen held on spying charges
Synonyms
detain,
arrest,
confine,
imprison,
impound,
pound,
hold in custody,
put in jail,
HD
in the sense of inhibit
Definition
to restrain or hinder (an impulse or desire)
buildings which inhibit the supply of light and air
Synonyms
hinder,
stop,
prevent,
check,
bar,
arrest,
frustrate,
curb,
restrain,
constrain,
obstruct,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
throw a spanner in the works of,
hold back or in
in the sense of jail
Definition
to confine in prison
He was jailed for twenty years.
Synonyms
imprison,
confine,
detain,
lock up,
constrain,
put away,
intern,
incarcerate,
send down,
send to prison,
impound,
put under lock and key,
immure
in the sense of limit
Definition
to restrict
He limited payments on the country's foreign debt.
Synonyms
restrict,
control,
check,
fix,
bound,
confine,
specify,
curb,
restrain,
ration,
hinder,
circumscribe,
hem in,
demarcate,
delimit,
put a brake on,
keep within limits,
straiten
in the sense of manacle
Definition
to put manacles on
His hands were manacled behind his back.
Synonyms
handcuff,
bind,
confine,
restrain,
check,
chain,
curb,
hamper,
inhibit,
constrain,
shackle,
fetter,
tie someone's hands,
put in chains,
clap or put in irons
in the sense of muzzle
Definition
to prevent from being heard or noticed
He complained of being muzzled by the chairman.
Synonyms
suppress,
silence,
curb,
restrain,
choke,
gag,
stifle,
censor
in the sense of pinion
Definition
to confine
His arms were pinioned against his sides.
Synonyms
immobilize,
tie,
bind,
chain,
confine,
fasten,
shackle,
pin down,
fetter,
manacle
in the sense of prevent
Definition
to keep (someone from doing something)
We took steps to prevent it happening.These methods prevent pregnancy.
Synonyms
stop,
avoid,
frustrate,
restrain,
check,
bar,
block,
anticipate,
hamper,
foil,
inhibit,
head off,
avert,
thwart,
intercept,
hinder,
obstruct,
preclude,
impede,
counteract,
ward off,
balk,
stave off,
forestall,
defend against,
obviate (formal),
nip in the bud
Additional synonyms
in the sense of repress
Definition
to keep (feelings) under control
People who repress their emotions risk having nightmares.
Synonyms
control,
suppress,
hold back,
bottle up,
check,
master,
hold in,
overcome,
curb,
restrain,
inhibit,
overpower,
keep in check
in the sense of restrict
The shoulder straps restrict movement.
Synonyms
hamper,
impede,
handicap,
restrain,
cramp,
inhibit,
straiten
in the sense of subdue
Definition
to make (feelings, colour, or lighting) less intense
He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.