imprison
verb /ɪmˈprɪzn/
/ɪmˈprɪzn/
[often passive]Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they imprison | /ɪmˈprɪzn/ /ɪmˈprɪzn/ |
| he / she / it imprisons | /ɪmˈprɪznz/ /ɪmˈprɪznz/ |
| past simple imprisoned | /ɪmˈprɪznd/ /ɪmˈprɪznd/ |
| past participle imprisoned | /ɪmˈprɪznd/ /ɪmˈprɪznd/ |
| -ing form imprisoning | /ɪmˈprɪznɪŋ/ /ɪmˈprɪznɪŋ/ |
- to put somebody in a prison or another place from which they cannot escape synonym jail
- be imprisoned (for something) They were imprisoned for possession of drugs.
- be imprisoned (+ adv./prep.) (figurative) Some young mothers feel imprisoned in their own homes.
Collocations Criminal justiceCriminal justiceBreaking the law- break/violate/obey/uphold the law
- be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
- be arrested/ (especially North American English) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US English) felony charges
- be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
- be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially North American English) homicide/four counts of fraud
- face two charges of indecent assault
- admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
- deny the allegations/claims/charges
- confess to a crime
- grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
- stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
- take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
- face/avoid/escape prosecution
- seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
- hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
- sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury
- sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock
- plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
- be called to/enter (British English) the witness box
- take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand
- call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
- give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
- raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
- reach a unanimous/majority verdict
- return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death
- convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
- secure a conviction/your acquittal
- lodge/file an appeal
- appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
- pass sentence on somebody
- carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
- receive/be given the death penalty
- be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
- carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment)
- be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
- do/serve time/ten years
- be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
- be/put somebody/spend X years on death row
- be granted/be denied/break (your) parole
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmentc1- He was imprisoned in a dungeon.
- We work on behalf of people who have been wrongly imprisoned.
- Her fear virtually imprisoned her in her home.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- falsely
- unjustly
- wrongfully
- …
- for
- in
Word OriginMiddle English emprison, from Old French emprisoner, from em- ‘in’ + prison.