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
noun dē-
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
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
detains
verb
1
as in apprehends
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law Police detained the suspect. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- apprehends
- arrests
- seizes
- imprisons
- restrains
- nabs
- jails
- restricts
- incarcerates
- pinches
- shuts
- captures
- commits
- holds
- constrains
- limits
- grabs
- runs in
- nicks
- confines
- collars
- interns
- snatches
- pulls in
- nails
- busts
- jugs
- picks up
- gates
- binds
- grapples
- lands
- catches
- snares
- bars
- traps
- immures
- handcuffs
- locks (up)
- bags
- fetters
- gets
- hooks
- remands
- shackles
- rearrests
- manacles
- trammels
- enchains
- snaps (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- liberates
- frees
- loosens
- looses
- springs
- releases
- emancipates
- discharges
- unbinds
- unchains
2
as in delays
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
- delays
- slows
- suspends
- obstructs
- hinders
- impedes
- halts
- keeps
- hesitates
- blocks
- balks
- pauses
- sets back
- retards
- holds
- baffles
- prolongs
- extends
- snags
- stalls
- lengthens
- stems
- defers
- blockades
- protracts
- bottlenecks
- clogs
- represses
- holds up
- holds back
- dams
- terminates
- remits
- arrests
- discontinues
- ends
- suppresses
- holds over
- concludes
- stops
- puts over
- cuts off
- lays over
- shelves
- checks
- squelches
- puts off
- stays
- squashes
- turns back
- stunts
- catches
- calls
- holds off (on)
- stills
- stretches (out)
- chokes off
- staunches
- brings up
- stanches
- pulls up
- draws up
- reins (in)
- holds up
- fetches up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continues
- persists
- keeps (on)
- moves
- progresses
- proceeds
- keeps up
- advances
- marches
- stirs
- wends
- pushes
- fares
- impels
- actuates
- runs on
- propels
- drives
- goads
- follows through (with)
- carries on
- spurs
- goes along
- budges