to detain

Examples

• All

• I know you're busy, so we won't detain you any longer than necessary.

  Strangers on a Train (1951)

• If you see him on campus, detain him and call the police.

  Academic text (1990)

• And you have no right whatsoever to detain me.

  12 Years a Slave (2013)

• You will not be detained one minute longer than is necessary for us to complete our mission.

  The Rock (1996)

• According to research, services for youth offenders detained in adult jails are limited.

  Academic text (2013)

• However, it's just the system is facing international backlash from unjustly detaining people awaiting criminal charges.

• 139 days before branch elections in Mufulira, eleven candidates were detained by the police.

  Academic text (2006)

• At the courthouse door, Ike detained Henry Holcomb as he was leaving.

  Fiction book (2000)

• We apologize for the delay, but we need to detain you for a moment to clarify your statement.

• Because of the traffic accident, they had to detain the witnesses until the investigation was complete.

Synonyms

D

to delay

vsto detain

442 1.4

To make something happen later than planned

applies to holding persons or things back not just postponing events

R

to restrain

vsto detain

233 4.6

Hold a person or thing so it cannot move freely

means delaying or keeping someone waiting rather than mainly restricting movement

H

to hold up

vsto detain

161 2.8

To cause a delay in plans or progress

is applied when a person is held back by officials

I

to impede

vsto detain

59 6.5

To slow the progress or movement of people and things

focuses on keeping someone waiting rather than blocking progress

Antonyms

R

release

282 1.8

An act of letting someone or something go free from being held

How Long

to immobilize

23 6.0

to detain

14 4.4

to hold up

161 2.8

to delay

442 1.4

to slow

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology