Synonyms for detain
dɪˈteɪnde·tain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 2 votes

1. detain

   The legal term arrest carries always the implication of a legal offense; this is true even of arresting for debt. But one may be detained by process of law when no offense is alleged against him, as in the case of a witness who is held in a house of detention till a case comes to trial. One may be restrained of his liberty without arrest, as in an insane asylum; an individual or corporation may be restrained by injunction from selling certain property. In case of an arrest, an officer may secure his prisoner by fetters, by a locked door, or other means effectually to prevent escape. Capture is commonly used of seizure by armed force; as, to capture a ship, a fort, etc. Compare HINDER; OBSTRUCT.

   Synonyms:
   apprehend, arrest, capture, catch, hold, make prisoner, restrain, secure, seize, stop, take into custody, take prisoner

   Antonyms:
   discharge, dismiss, free, liberate, release, set free

   Preposition:
   Arrested for crime, on suspicion, by the sheriff; on, upon, or by virtue of a warrant; on final process; in execution.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.5 / 4 votes

1. detain

   Synonyms:
   stay, keep, arrest, check, withhold, delay, restrain, embargo, stop

   Antonyms:
   liberate, expedite, accelerate, dismiss, loose, disembargo

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. confine, detainverb

   deprive of freedom; take into confinement

   Synonyms:
   restrict, hold, bound, restrain, circumscribe, stay, throttle, hold in, hold up, confine, delay, limit, trammel, enclose

2. stay, detain, delayverb

   stop or halt

   "Please stay the bloodshed!"

   Synonyms:
   quell, delay, bide, stick, stay, last out, confine, hold up, ride out, persist, check, rest, appease, remain, stick around, abide, retard, stay on, stay put, outride, continue

3. delay, detain, hold upverb

   cause to be slowed down or delayed

   "Traffic was delayed by the bad weather"; "she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform"

   Synonyms:
   go, live, stick up, stay, last, delay, confine, hold up, hold out, hold, sustain, hold water, live on, support, check, retard, endure, stand up, withstand, defy, survive

Matched Categories

1. • Check
   • Slow

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. detainverb

   Synonyms:
   restrain, stay, check, delay, retain, stop, keep back

2. detainverb

   Synonyms:
   confine, hold in custody

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "detain":

   detains, arrests, arrest, detention, nabs, incarcerate, apprehend, imprison, arresting, hold, stop, detained, nab, captures, arrested

How to pronounce detain?

How to say detain in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use detain in a sentence?

1. The ACLU:

   We cannot allow racist and armed vigilantes to kidnap and detain people seeking asylum, we urge you to immediately investigate this atrocious and unlawful conduct.

2. Sam Shamansky:

   The county prosecutor working with the U.S. Attorney's office decided to proceed first in state court to detain my client.

3. Omar Jadwat:

   The last thing the government should be doing is putting immigrants into prisons so that it can detain even more people who pose no threat to anyone.

4. Andrew Selee:

   The Mexican governments decision to detain as many migrants as possible, after President Trump put pressure on them to do so, has made it clear just how many third-country nationals from outside Central America are actually in the country.

5. Syahredzan Johan:

   Parliamentary immunity does not extend to alleged offences under the Sedition Act, but there's the more important argument that you need to detain her overnight, when all you wanted to do was record her statement.