detain Definition
- 1keep (someone) in official custody, typically for questioning about a crime or in politically sensitive situations
- 2keep (someone) from proceeding; hold back
Using detain: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "detain" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The police detained the suspect for further questioning.
Example
He was detained at the airport for several hours.
Example
The bad weather detained us for another day.
Example
She was detained by a phone call.
detain Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using detain
detain the enemy
prevent the enemy from moving or advancing
Example
The troops were ordered to detain the enemy at all costs.
detain the progress
slow down or hinder the progress of something
Example
The technical difficulties detained the progress of the project.
detain the verdict
postpone or delay the announcement of a verdict in a trial
Example
The judge decided to detain the verdict until further evidence was presented.
Phrases with detain
detain in custody
keep someone in official custody, typically for questioning about a crime or in politically sensitive situations
Example
The suspect was detained in custody for 24 hours.
be detained by something
be held back or delayed by something
Example
I was detained by traffic and arrived late to the meeting.
detain someone's attention
keep someone interested or focused on something
Example
The movie was so captivating that it detained my attention for the entire duration.
Origins of detain
from Old French 'detenir', from Latin 'detinere', from 'de-' (expressing reversal) + 'tenere' (to hold)
Summary: detain in Brief
The verb 'detain' [dɪˈteɪn] means to keep someone in official custody, typically for questioning about a crime or in politically sensitive situations. It can also mean to hold someone back or delay their progress. Examples include 'The police detained the suspect for further questioning' and 'The bad weather detained us for another day.' Phrases like 'detain in custody' and idioms like 'detain the enemy' extend the meaning of the word.
