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- Dictionaryde·tain/dəˈtān/
verb
- 1. keep (someone) from proceeding; hold back: "she made to open the door, but he detained her" Similar
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The meaning of DETAIN is to hold or keep in or as if in custody. How to use detain in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Detain.
DETAIN definition: 1. to force someone officially to stay in a place: 2. to delay someone for a short length of time…. Learn more.
1.verb. When people such as the police detain someone, they keep them in a place under their control. [formal] The act allows police to detain a suspect for up to 48 hours. [VERB noun] He was arrested and detained for questioning. [VERB noun] Synonyms: hold, arrest, confine, restrain More Synonyms of detain. 2.verb.
When you detain someone, you hold them back, slow them down, or stop them from moving on. If you are detained by the police, you may be late for the big football game, even if you were speeding to get there by the kickoff.
Detain definition: to keep from proceeding; keep waiting; delay. . See examples of DETAIN used in a sentence.
1. To keep from proceeding; delay or retard: Our friends were detained by heavy traffic. 2. To keep in custody or confinement: The police detained several suspects for questioning. 3. Archaic To retain or withhold (payment or property, for example).
DETAIN meaning: 1. to force someone officially to stay in a place: 2. to delay someone for a short length of time…. Learn more.
detain somebody (formal) to delay somebody or prevent them from going somewhere. I'm sorry—he'll be late; he's been detained at a meeting. The minister was unavoidably detained in Lisbon on affairs of state. see also detention. Word Origin.
DETAIN definition: to keep someone somewhere and not allow them to leave, especially in order to ask them about a…. Learn more.
Definitions of 'detain' 1. When people such as the police detain someone, they keep them in a place under their control. [formal] [...] 2. To detain someone means to delay them, for example by talking to them. [formal] [...] More. Conjugations of 'detain' present simple: I detain, you detain [...] past simple: I detained, you detained [...]
