detain
verb (used with object)
to keep from proceeding; keep waiting; delay.
detained
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.
A.S. said he tripped and broke an ankle while detained in late February.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
In fact, scores of American citizens have been abducted off the street and detained.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
Prosecutors also have detained seven people, including an Nvidia worker, in a separate case involving the alleged smuggling of the US tech giant's AI chips to China.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
The main suspects, an unemployed man and a student residing in Cairo and Giza, have been detained, the ministry said.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
It was addressed to her, and after the salutations, it read: Have been unavoidably detained by the world.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
