verb
-
to compel or force, esp by persuasion, circumstances, etc; oblige
-
to restrain by or as if by force; confine
Other Word Forms
- constrainable adjective
- constrainer noun
- constrainingly adverb
- nonconstraining adjective
- unconstrainable adjective
- unconstraining adjective
Etymology
Origin of constrain
1275–1325; Middle English constrei ( g ) nen < Anglo-French, Middle French constrei ( g ) n- (stem of constreindre ) < Latin constringere. See con-, strain 1
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 estimates rely on the best available data but are constrained by gaps in high-quality cancer data, especially in resource-limited countries.
From Science Daily
“Previously, capacity was constrained by clean room space, but this limitation is being addressed through the acceleration of new clean rooms and the re-purposing of existing ones,” they added.
From MarketWatch
Despite this advantage, tokamak experiments have long been constrained by an upper density limit.
From Science Daily
In the modern era, the British heritage of common law, freedom of speech and personal virtue didn’t constrain innovation but produced it.
Even when U.S. studios do score a hit, the financial upside is constrained.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
