detain

American  

[dih-teyn] / dɪˈteɪn /

verb (used with object)

• detains,
  present (3rd person singular)
• detained,
  past participle,  past
• detaining
  present participle

1. to keep from proceeding; keep waiting; delay.

   Synonyms:

   check, stay, stop, hinder, slow, retard

2. to keep under restraint or in custody.

3. Obsolete. to keep back or withhold, as from a person.

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detain British  

/ ˌdiːteɪˈniː, dɪˈteɪn /

verb

1. to delay; hold back; stop

2. to confine or hold in custody; restrain

3. archaic to retain or withhold

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• detainee
  noun
• detainment
  noun
• predetain
  verb (used with object)
• detainable
  adjective
• undetainable
  adjective
• undetained
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• detaining
  present
• detained
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• detain
  simple
• detains
  simple
• have detained
  perfect
• has detained
  perfect
• am detaining
  progressive
• are detaining
  progressive
• is detaining
  progressive
• have been detaining
  perfect progressive
• has been detaining
  perfect progressive

Past

• detained
  simple
• had detained
  perfect
• was detaining
  progressive
• were detaining
  progressive
• had been detaining
  perfect progressive

Future

• will detain
  simple
• will have detained
  perfect
• will be detaining
  progressive
• will have been detaining
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of detain

First recorded in 1480–90; detainen, from Anglo-French, Old French detenir, from unattested Vulgar Latin dētenīre, for Latin dētinēre, equivalent to dē- de- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”

Explanation

When you detain someone, you hold them back, slow them down, or stop them from moving on. If you are detained by the police, you may be late for the big football game, even if you were speeding to get there by the kickoff. There are lots of words that contain the root tain, like contain and retain. These come from Latin tenere, which means "to hold." Detain is specifically used when you're talking about holding someone so they can't go anywhere. It's often used in discussions involving the police who detain people who they think might be guilty. But you can use detain, say, when you're explaining why you were late: "I was detained at the office by a conference call that wouldn't end. Sorry."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

detain detains detained detaining

Israeli security forces used to be able to detain and hold violent Jewish settlers without formal charges or trial, a practice known as administrative detention.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

Mamdani admitted he was not sure if he has the power to order the New York Police Department to detain a foreign leader but is discussing the matter with the city's legal team.

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

The purchase comes as the Department of Homeland Security has moved to scale up its capacity to detain immigrants without relying as heavily on private prison corporations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Police arrive on scene shortly afterwards and detain the man about five minutes after he first pulled up in the street.

From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026

I bid him tarry a time & take his Supper but he would not, I could not detain him longer.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Speaking to shareholders during a private meeting last year, the CEO of Akima’s parent company, John Aġnaaqłuk Lincoln, said the company cares about the welfare of the people it detains nationwide.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026

Marine, temporarily detains someone, the question is: Is that person free to go?

From Slate ● Sep. 3, 2025

Apparently, the administration is casting a very wide net as it detains and deports people.

From Salon ● May 25, 2025

Border Patrol daily detains thousands of migrants, including Mexicans and others, and returns many to Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2024

How very kind Mr. Brooke is, and how fortunate that Mr. Laurence’s business detains him near you so long, since he is so useful to you and Father.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

A military review is underway after news reporters and two members of the military were briefly detained at gunpoint at Vandenberg Space Force Base Monday, even though they were invited to the facility, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Several similar operatives had been detained so far this year, he said, including one person from Kazakhstan.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The source said Swalwell was held on Saturday at SFO and released the same day he was detained for search purposes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

But ICE had reported only the average length of stay for children already released, and not those who still were detained.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

The guard’s ordering me out, but by the shuffling that follows, I know Gale has somehow detained him.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

It didn’t provide an assessment of Suu Kyi’s health or condition, noting that any observations or recommendations are shared exclusively with the detaining authorities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

It’s not uncommon for ICE agents to use unmarked cars and wear masks as they attempt arrests, and advocacy groups say the tactic means people often aren’t aware that it’s federal agents detaining them.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

"If the ships failed to heed their instructions, detaining them was a viable alternative," he said.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

Beijing has been accused of detaining more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims since 2017, part of a campaign that the United Nations previously said could constitute crimes against humanity.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

“Matant, they said they are detaining her,” I say.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi

Related Words

• apprehend
• confine
• delay
• jail