Synonyms

imprison

American

[im-priz-uhn] / ɪmˈprɪz ən /

verb (used with object)

to confine in or as if in a prison.

Synonyms:

restrain, jail, incarcerate

imprison British

/ ɪmˈprɪzən /

verb

(tr) to confine in or as if in prison

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

imprisonable adjective
imprisoner noun
imprisonment noun
reimprison verb (used with object)
reimprisonment noun
unimprisonable adjective
unimprisoned adjective

Etymology

Origin of imprison

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English enprisonen, from Old French enprisoner, equivalent to en- en- ¹ + prison prison + -er infinitive suffix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The strike was carried out in a precise manner to mitigate harm to civilians imprisoned within the prison to the greatest extent possible,” the IDF said in a statement.

From The Wall Street Journal

And the core of that story, a man falsely imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit and eventually driving him insane, is unfortunately pretty evergreen.

From Los Angeles Times

Though none of this was by design, it proved to be the best possible setting for those who had been imprisoned in Germany.

From Literature

"No one remained imprisoned by mistake: the people were released," said Morando.

From Barron's

Díaz-Canel also began releasing a group of 51 Cuban prisoners, many of them imprisoned activists and protesters.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023