detain

verb

de·tain di-ˈtān How to pronounce detain (audio)

dē-

detained; detaining; detains

transitive verb

: to hold or keep in or as if in custody

detained by the police for questioning

obsolete : to keep back (something due) : withhold

: to restrain especially from proceeding

was detained by a flat tire

detainment

di-ˈtān-mənt How to pronounce detain (audio)

dē-

noun

Example Sentences

They were detained by the police for questioning. He claimed he had been illegally detained. Unexpected business had detained her.

Recent Examples on the Web Blakely and several deputies testified that it’s common for law enforcement to handcuff and detain witnesses at crime scenes.

Ashley Remkus | Aremkus@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2022 The criminal complaint filed in the case described a fracas that lasted as long as seven minutes and required the help of a fourth individual – a citizen – to detain the man.

Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2022 Several times during the war, the Russians have agreed to allow humanitarian corridors to evacuate besieged cities, only to fire on those corridors and at times detain some of those fleeing.

New York Times, 29 July 2022 After a third law enforcement officer arrives, all three try to detain the man in a room.

Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, 21 July 2022 Lopez, 51, was trying to detain a man suspected of theft when he was shot, according to Sheriff David Rhodes.

Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 1 July 2022 Officers were able to locate and detain the man a short distance from the home.

cleveland, 4 Mar. 2022 As police attempted to detain the man, a separate black SUV fled the scene and crashed at the intersection of La Palma Avenue and Brookhurst Street, killing its two passengers, whose names have not been released.

Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2022 Three security guards tried to detain the man and that’s when the struggle unfolded, police said.

David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2022 See More

detain

verb

as in to arrest

to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law Police detained the suspect.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

arrest
apprehend
seize
imprison
restrain
incarcerate
nab
confine
jail
restrict
capture
constrain
limit
run in
commit
hold
shut
nick
pull in
collar
pinch
grab
snatch
nail
pick up
bust
intern
gate
jug
immure
handcuff
catch
bar
trap
grapple
snare
land
bind
shackle
lock (up)
fetter
hook
rearrest
bag
remand
enchain
get
trammel
snap (up)
manacle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

liberate
loosen
emancipate
release
loose
free
spring
discharge
unchain
unbind

as in to delay

to keep (someone or something) from proceeding or progressing She sent word that she had been unavoidably detained. The plane was detained for hours due to inclement weather.

Synonyms & Similar Words

delay
slow
hinder
impede
obstruct
set back
keep
block
suspend
hesitate
halt
snag
extend
hold
retard
lengthen
prolong
pause
stall
defer
baffle
blockade
stem
balk
hold up
protract
clog
arrest
hold back
dam
repress
terminate
bottleneck
hold over
put over
lay over
put off
stop
suppress
cut off
shelve
discontinue
remit
conclude
still
stretch (out)
check
hold off (on)
stay
turn back
stanch
squelch
catch
end
staunch
stunt
call
choke off
pull up
draw up
squash
hold up
bring up
fetch up
rein (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

continue
keep (on)
persist
proceed
keep up
move
advance
march
progress
run on
wend
follow through (with)
push
impel
stir
spur
fare
goad
drive
carry on
propel
actuate
budge
go along

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of detain are delay, retard, slacken, and slow. While all these words mean "to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress," detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

unexpected business had detained her

While in some cases nearly identical to detain, delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

bad weather delayed our arrival

In some situations, the words retard and detain are roughly equivalent. However, retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

language barriers retarded their progress

Although the words slacken and detain have much in common, slacken suggests an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

on hot days runners slacken their pace

Both slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention.

medication slowed the patient's heart rate

单词	detain
释义	detain verb de·tain di-ˈtān dē- detained; detaining; detains transitive verb 1 : to hold or keep in or as if in custody detained by the police for questioning 2 obsolete : to keep back (something due) : withhold 3 : to restrain especially from proceeding was detained by a flat tire detainment di-ˈtān-mənt dē- noun Example Sentences They were detained by the police for questioning. He claimed he had been illegally detained. Unexpected business had detained her. Recent Examples on the Web Blakely and several deputies testified that it’s common for law enforcement to handcuff and detain witnesses at crime scenes. Ashley Remkus \| Aremkus@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2022 The criminal complaint filed in the case described a fracas that lasted as long as seven minutes and required the help of a fourth individual – a citizen – to detain the man. Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2022 Several times during the war, the Russians have agreed to allow humanitarian corridors to evacuate besieged cities, only to fire on those corridors and at times detain some of those fleeing. New York Times, 29 July 2022 After a third law enforcement officer arrives, all three try to detain the man in a room. Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, 21 July 2022 Lopez, 51, was trying to detain a man suspected of theft when he was shot, according to Sheriff David Rhodes. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 1 July 2022 Officers were able to locate and detain the man a short distance from the home. cleveland, 4 Mar. 2022 As police attempted to detain the man, a separate black SUV fled the scene and crashed at the intersection of La Palma Avenue and Brookhurst Street, killing its two passengers, whose names have not been released. Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2022 Three security guards tried to detain the man and that’s when the struggle unfolded, police said. David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English deteynen, from Anglo-French deteign-, stem of detenir, modification of Latin detinēre, from de- + tenēre to hold — more at thin First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition detain verb de·tain di-ˈtān detained; detaining 1 : to hold or keep in or as if in prison The suspect was detained by police. 2 : to stop from going on : delay Snow detained our flight. Legal Definition detain transitive verb de·tain 1 : to hold or keep in custody or possession property wrongfully detained a juvenile detained in a care facility 2 : to restrain from proceeding detained the driver and asked to see his license detain verb 1 as in to arrest to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law Police detained the suspect. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance arrest apprehend seize imprison restrain incarcerate nab confine jail restrict capture constrain limit run in commit hold shut nick pull in collar pinch grab snatch nail pick up bust intern gate jug immure handcuff catch bar trap grapple snare land bind shackle lock (up) fetter hook rearrest bag remand enchain get trammel snap (up) manacle Antonyms & Near Antonyms liberate loosen emancipate release loose free spring discharge unchain unbind See More 2 as in to delay to keep (someone or something) from proceeding or progressing She sent word that she had been unavoidably detained. The plane was detained for hours due to inclement weather. Synonyms & Similar Words delay slow hinder impede obstruct set back keep block suspend hesitate halt snag extend hold retard lengthen prolong pause stall defer baffle blockade stem balk hold up protract clog arrest hold back dam repress terminate bottleneck hold over put over lay over put off stop suppress cut off shelve discontinue remit conclude still stretch (out) check hold off (on) stay turn back stanch squelch catch end staunch stunt call choke off pull up draw up squash hold up bring up fetch up rein (in) Antonyms & Near Antonyms continue keep (on) persist proceed keep up move advance march progress run on wend follow through (with) push impel stir spur fare goad drive carry on propel actuate budge go along See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of detain are delay, retard, slacken, and slow. While all these words mean "to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress," detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time. unexpected business had detained her While in some cases nearly identical to detain, delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival. bad weather delayed our arrival In some situations, the words retard and detain are roughly equivalent. However, retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping. language barriers retarded their progress Although the words slacken and detain have much in common, slacken suggests an easing up or relaxing of power or effort. on hot days runners slacken their pace Both slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention. medication slowed the patient's heart rate
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detain

verb

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb

Synonym Chooser