imprison

[ im-priz-uhn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to confine in or as if in a prison.

   Synonyms: restrain, jail, incarcerate

imprison

/ ɪmˈprɪzən /

verb

1. tr to confine in or as if in prison

Derived Forms

• imˈprisonment, noun
• imˈprisoner, noun

Other Words From

• im·pris·on·a·ble adjective
• im·pris·on·er noun
• im·pris·on·ment noun
• re·im·pris·on verb (used with object)
• re·im·pris·on·ment noun
• un·im·pris·on·a·ble adjective
• un·im·pris·oned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imprison¹

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

Example Sentences

I was at an immigrant jail in Louisiana, imprisoned for seeking political asylum.

From Washington Blade

Arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning people for drug-related crimes is expensive.

From No Straight News

Independent journalist imprisoned for coronavirus reporting, now on hunger strike.

From Fortune

They also do that by advocating for people’s sentences to be commuted, by expanding the grounds through which people can be eligible for release, or by advocating for compassionate release for elderly and infirm imprisoned people.

From Vox

The brave few who stand up to the regime are persecuted or imprisoned as criminals, accused of receiving money that the United States sends them to “subvert” the “sovereign and democratic order chosen by the people.”

From Washington Blade

Elsewhere, she tells her inamorata, “It does not matter if you elude my arms/my dear, when thought alone can imprison you.”

From The Daily Beast

They voted to imprison people convicted of being gay for two years and six months.

From The Daily Beast

It was flat and pointed, like the heads of many of those unfortunates whom people imprison in asylums for the weak-minded.

From The Daily Beast

Why did it take so long to imprison the men responsible for this terrible crime?

From The Daily Beast

It was ‘us vs. them,’ and ‘we need to kill or imprison them all.’

From The Daily Beast

Some of them talked secretly together and made a plan to imprison him and take possession of the ships.

From Project Gutenberg

But I've taken steps to imprison it in the tent, and it can't get out till I permit it.

From Project Gutenberg

They oppose the Acts of Navigation, and imprison the King's officers for doing their duty.

From Project Gutenberg

Imprison them for a quarter of a century, and on the day of their release they will conspire against czardom.

From Project Gutenberg

Certainly he plotted against him, sending his son Nerli to Lucca with orders to trap Castruccio and imprison him; which was done.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apprehend
• commit
• detain
• hold
• incarcerate
• jail
• lock up
• remand