detain
6 antonyms for detain — opposites grouped by meaning.
Verb — To officially hold someone, preventing them from leaving.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To officially hold someone, preventing them from leaving.
“Police detained the suspect for questioning.”
Opposites
2. verb
To delay someone or keep them from moving on.
“Sorry to detain you — I just have one more question.”
Opposites
Antonyms
How to use detain
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
detain a suspect
detained for questioning
won't detain you long
Etymology
From Old French detenir, from Latin detinere, "to hold back" — from de- and tenere ("to hold").
Full origin of detain →Frequently asked questions
What does “detain” mean?
The word “detain” means to officially hold someone, preventing them from leaving. In plain terms, to hold someone back, either officially in custody or simply by delaying them.
How do you pronounce “detain”?
“Detain” is pronounced dih-TAYN (/dɪˈteɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “detain” in a sentence?
Here is “detain” used in a sentence: “Police detained the suspect for questioning.”
What part of speech is “detain”?
“Detain” is a verb.
Where does the word “detain” come from?
The word “detain” comes from Latin. From Old French detenir, from Latin detinere, "to hold back" — from de- and tenere ("to hold").
Is “detain” a common word?
“Detain” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “detain” have?
“Detain” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to officially hold someone, preventing them from leaving.
