detain meaning

UK /dɪˈteɪn/ US /dɪˈteɪn/ 2 syllables

detain (verb): deprive of freedom; take into confinement.

detain has 3 meanings in this dictionary.

detain as a verb

  1. deprive of freedom; take into confinement

    Synonyms: confine

    Kinds: keep, straiten, imprison, intern, bind over, cage, trap, keep in

    Related forms: detention, detainee

  2. stop or halt
    • Please stay the bloodshed!

    Synonyms: stay, delay

    Type of: check

  3. 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: delay, hold up

    Type of: decelerate

    Kinds: stonewall, catch, stall, buy time

How to pronounce detain

detain is pronounced /dɪˈteɪn/ in British English and /dɪˈteɪn/ in American English. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.

Words that rhyme with detain

Scrabble score: 7 (letter breakdown)

Word lists: words starting with DE · words ending in IN · 6-letter words

More about detain on Wikipedia.