detain

American  

[dih-tayn] / 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  

/ 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

The government said: "The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival."

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

They find various reasons to detain it, no matter how new the vessel is or its actual condition, say seafarers and one ship manager who work on vessels regularly going to Chinese ports.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 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

“When shall I see you?” asked Arobin, seeking to detain her, the maid having left the room.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

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

ICE detains hundreds at a plant in Georgia, Oracle surges toward the trillion dollar mark, and JP Morgan has a fancy new headquarters.

From Slate ● Sep. 13, 2025

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

From Salon ● May 25, 2025

Her final stunt on camera was released in July 2024 in the Midsomer Murders' episode The Debt Of Lies, where she played a retired police dog who detains the murderer before retiring.

From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2025

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 Scottish Sikh activist has been released from prison in India after being detained for almost nine years without being convicted.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

His sister, Amanda Castillo, engaged Global Reach, a Washington-based nonprofit that works to bring home Americans it believes have been detained wrongfully or kidnapped.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

At least two Israelis were detained, according to the military.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

In the following days, three suspects -- two of whom were confirmed to be Latvian -- were detained in Latvia, and this month were handed over to Estonia.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

The cages were empty—save one: Mahisha, our Bengal tiger pa­triarch, a lanky, hulking beast of 550 pounds, had been detained.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Is DHS legally obligated to disclose where they are detaining someone?

From Slate ● Sep. 24, 2026

Several survivors told local media they heard a blast shortly before the vessel rolled, with police detaining the captain and more than a dozen others.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

Chinese authorities have charged a China-born American seismologist who researches underground nuclear tests with espionage after secretly detaining him in late 2024, according to the Massachusetts man’s supporters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 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

"I shall return for the debate tryout," Didu says, detaining him.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

Related Words

• apprehend
• confine
• delay
• jail