restrain
verb (used with object)
to hold back from action; keep in check or under control; repress.
were restraining
-
past progressiveof restrain.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
He said he saw little evidence that borrowing conditions were restraining the economy and that the better inflation readings in June and July hadn’t convinced him the underlying trend was improving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
The man had bare feet and four officers were restraining him at the time.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2025
While they were restraining him, both of the men holding him down spoke with 911 in separate calls.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 14, 2024
He said he relied on the officers who were restraining Floyd to monitor the man’s condition and believed that, because they weren’t performing CPR, Floyd was “fine.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 24, 2022
Papa now said ungently and impatiently, yet as though he were restraining himself, "Well, we must get her home at once, where we can take care of her!"
From Rough-Hewn by Dorothy Canfield
