Restrain

//ɹɪˈstɹeɪn// verb

verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To control or keep in check. transitive

    "As with vicarious mismenstruation, the abnormal cessation only requires strict attention to the general health, with such measures to restrain hemorrhage as have already been indicated."

  2. 2
    To strain again. transitive

    "Squeeze the juice from 3 oranges and let the juice stand. Then pour it off, strain, and mix with the syrup. Restrain the liquid and chill in a mold."

  3. 3
    prevent the action or expression of wordnet
  4. 4
    To deprive of liberty. transitive
  5. 5
    restrict (someone or something) so as to make free movement difficult wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    To restrict or limit. transitive

    "He was restrained by the straitjacket."

  2. 7
    to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement wordnet
  3. 8
    prevent (someone or something) from doing something wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
checkconfineconfinehold backabateadjourn

Example

More examples

"You should learn to restrain yourself."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English restreinen, from Old French restreindre, from Latin rēstringere (“fasten, tighten”).

Etymology 2

From re- + strain.

More for "restrain"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.