imprison
ihm-PRIH-zuhn
Imprison (verb) means to put someone in prison, or to confine them against their will. Example: “He was imprisoned for fraud after a lengthy trial.”
verb
1
To put someone in prison, or to confine them against their will.
"One of the village's most notable sons was Thomas Grantham, a Baptist church leader born in 1634, who was persecuted and imprisoned in the struggle for nonconformist beliefs during the reign of Charles II."
— AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd (1980)
"He was imprisoned for fraud after a lengthy trial."
"The activists were imprisoned for protesting peacefully."
How to use imprison
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo lock someone up or otherwise trap them against their will.
Common pairings
imprisoned for
wrongfully imprisoned
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- imprisons
- Past tense
- imprisoned
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He was _____ for fraud after a lengthy trial.
Etymology
From Old French emprisonner, from em- + prison.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for imprison
See all rhymes for imprison →Frequently asked questions
What does “imprison” mean?
The word “imprison” means to put someone in prison, or to confine them against their will. In plain terms, to lock someone up or otherwise trap them against their will.
How do you pronounce “imprison”?
“Imprison” is pronounced ihm-PRIH-zuhn (/ɪmˈpɹɪzən/ in IPA).
How do you use “imprison” in a sentence?
Here is “imprison” used in a sentence: “He was imprisoned for fraud after a lengthy trial.”
What part of speech is “imprison”?
“Imprison” is a verb.
Where does the word “imprison” come from?
The word “imprison” comes from Old French. From Old French emprisonner, from em- + prison.
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