verb
Uncommon
detain
dih-TAYN
Detain (verb) means to officially hold someone, preventing them from leaving. Example: “Police detained the suspect for questioning.”
verb
1
To officially hold someone, preventing them from leaving.
"Police detained the suspect for questioning."
2
To delay someone or keep them from moving on.
"Sorry to detain you — I just have one more question."
How to use detain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hold someone back, either officially in custody or simply by delaying them.
Common pairings
detain a suspect
detained for questioning
won't detain you long
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- detains
- Past tense
- detained
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police _____ the suspect for questioning.
Etymology
From Old French detenir, from Latin detinere, "to hold back" — from de- and tenere ("to hold").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for detain
See all rhymes for 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.
