verb
Uncommon
restrain
rih-STRAYN
Restrain (verb) means to hold back or keep someone or something under control. Example: “Security had to restrain the unruly fan.”
verb
1
To hold back or keep someone or something under control.
"Security had to restrain the unruly fan."
"She struggled to restrain her laughter during the ceremony."
2
To limit or place restrictions on something.
"The new law aims to restrain excessive spending by the agency."
How to use restrain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hold back or keep under control, whether that's a person, an emotion, or spending.
Common pairings
restrain oneself
physically restrain
restrain spending
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- restrains
- Past tense
- restrained
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Security had to _____ the unruly fan.
Etymology
From Old French restreindre, from Latin restringere, "to bind fast, restrict" — the same root that gives us "restrict" and "string."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for restrain
See all rhymes for restrain →Frequently asked questions
What does “restrain” mean?
The word “restrain” means to hold back or keep someone or something under control. In plain terms, to hold back or keep under control, whether that's a person, an emotion, or spending.
How do you pronounce “restrain”?
“Restrain” is pronounced rih-STRAYN (/ɹɪˈstɹeɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “restrain” in a sentence?
Here is “restrain” used in a sentence: “Security had to restrain the unruly fan.”
What is another word for “restrain”?
Words with a similar meaning to “restrain” include limit and withstrain.
What part of speech is “restrain”?
“Restrain” is a verb.
Where does the word “restrain” come from?
The word “restrain” comes from Latin. From Old French restreindre, from Latin restringere, "to bind fast, restrict" — the same root that gives us "restrict" and "string.".
Is “restrain” a common word?
“Restrain” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “restrain” have?
“Restrain” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hold back or keep someone or something under control.
