Synonyms

detain

American

[dih-teyn] / dɪˈteɪn /

verb (used with object)

to keep from proceeding; keep waiting; delay.

Synonyms:

check, stay, stop, hinder, slow, retard
to keep under restraint or in custody.
Obsolete. to keep back or withhold, as from a person.

detain British

/ ˌdiːteɪˈniː, dɪˈteɪn /

verb

to delay; hold back; stop
to confine or hold in custody; restrain
archaic to retain or withhold

"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

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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."

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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.

DHS said the immigrant, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was in the country illegally and attempted to evade arrest after ICE moved to detain him at a traffic stop Tuesday morning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026

Hannah Dugan was convicted of improperly directing a defendant in her courtroom away from ICE officers seeking to detain him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026

Under the ordinance, city employees and city property may not be used to “investigate, cite, arrest, hold, transfer or detain any person” for the purpose of immigration enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

This week, the justices announced they’ll be taking up a consequential case next term: How long can ICE detain lawful green-card holders without providing the opportunity to post bond?

From Slate • Jun. 18, 2026

The dear girl was more affectionate with me than ever, and clung to me as though she would detain me; but there was much to be talked of and I came away.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

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