What does "detain" mean?
To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
Detain
verb
verb ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
- Grammar: detain is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: confine, delay, hold up, apprehend.
- Useful contrasts: new feature release, temporary release, unconfined.
- Usage evidence: To my surprise, the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me.
How to use "detain"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "detain" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "detain" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "detain" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "detain" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "detain" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "confine" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "detain", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay. transitive
- 2 cause to be slowed down or delayed wordnet
- 3 To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention. transitive
- 4 stop or halt wordnet
- 5 To keep back or from; to withhold. archaic, transitive
"Detain not the wages of the hireling."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 deprive of freedom; take into confinement wordnet
- 7 To put someone under custody. transitive
"In April of 2009, however, the disease was found to suddenly no longer be appearing in newly-hatched chickens, and, upon review, it was discovered that Dr. Wildcat had modified 6002 without authorization, removing the disease from the genome. She's detained and questioned by Muller, and, even though she tries to lie that she didn't do anything, they have footage of her ascending the tree on her own."
- 8 To seize goods for official purposes. transitive
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"To my surprise, the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "detain"?
Common synonyms include: confine, delay, hold up, apprehend, apprehended, apprehending.
How do you use "detain" in a sentence?
To my surprise, the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me.
Etymology
From Old French detenir. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.